The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially launched a Request for Information (RFI) process inviting potential suppliers from across Africa and beyond to register for possible participation in procurement opportunities linked to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 tournament.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kampala on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Communications and Promotion Sub-Committee, Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, said the RFI exercise is intended to help CAF build a database of prospective suppliers ahead of the release of formal tenders for goods and services required for the continental tournament.
According to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), only suppliers who complete and submit the RFI through CAF’s official procurement portal will be eligible to receive notifications once tenders are published.
“The information being sought mainly concerns supplier identity and the nature of goods or services they can provide,” Dr. Mugimba said.
CAF is seeking potential suppliers in a wide range of sectors including catering, ticketing solutions, translation services, communications, digital and broadcasting services, hospitality, transportation and logistics, fan zone management, IT solutions, branding and signage, concession management, and general supplies.
The LOC clarified that the current exercise is strictly for market mapping purposes and does not constitute a tender, request for proposal, quotation, or contractual commitment by CAF or the LOC.
Officials further emphasized that this particular RFI relates solely to procurement activities being undertaken by CAF and not the Uganda LOC. The LOC is expected to issue separate calls for services and goods specifically intended for execution within Uganda in line with CAF procurement guidelines.
The committee also reiterated an earlier appeal to owners and proprietors of accommodation facilities to engage the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) for accreditation ahead of the tournament.
Dr. Mugimba encouraged operators of hotels, hostels, apartments, guest houses, lodges, and private accommodation facilities interested in offering services through platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com to begin the accreditation process early.
“You do not become an Airbnb or Booking.com service provider simply by referring to yourself as one. There is an assessment process against quality standards before listing,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the LOC reported steady progress on infrastructure projects tied to AFCON 2027 preparations.
Construction and upgrade works are ongoing at Akii-Bua Stadium, Mandela National Stadium Namboole, and Hoima City Stadium. The LOC also confirmed that most designated training facilities have already been handed over to the UPDF Engineering Brigade, with works progressing well.
In the health sector, contractors have been identified for the upgrade of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Masindi General Hospital, and Buseruka Health Centre III, alongside road infrastructure improvements around Hoima City Stadium and Namboole.
Additionally, CAF has reportedly guided the LOC in identifying hotels within the Hoima-Masindi cluster for upgrades. A shortlist of up to 12 hotels has been submitted to the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) for consideration under a government-backed credit facility.
The names of successful beneficiary hotels will be publicly disclosed upon completion of the approval process to ensure transparency and accountability, the LOC stated.
