Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda plan joint visa for AFCON 2027 fans

What the report says

Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are preparing a joint visa arrangement aimed at making it easier for football fans to move across borders during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, according to reporting by The Independent Uganda based on Xinhua. The plan was announced by Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, who chairs the East African Community Council of Ministers and also serves as Uganda’s first deputy prime minister and minister for East African Community affairs.

Kadaga made the remarks during an inspection of the Arusha Pamoja AFCON Stadium by members of the East African Legislative Assembly. She said the three host nations are working on a special visa framework to support spectator travel between match venues. The idea is also intended to help visitors combine tournament travel with tourism, which could benefit hotels, transport operators, tour companies and other service businesses.

The report noted, however, that the arrangement’s effect will depend on the final visa rules and how well they are applied at border points. EALA member Abdullah Makame said implementation will be important. During the same visit, officials were told that the Arusha Pamoja AFCON Stadium, designed for about 32,500 spectators, was 95% complete.

The 2027 AFCON will run from June 19 to July 17 and will be the first edition hosted jointly by three countries. That makes the visa plan part of wider preparations for an unusually distributed tournament across East Africa.