Uganda’s AFCON tourism challenge: make Muslim-friendly services outlast the tournament

For a Muslim traveller considering Uganda, the booking decision can turn on something as practical as knowing whether a hotel serves verified halal food or has prayer facilities. An analysis by Kalema Ali published by Nile Post Uganda argues that making those answers easier to find could help the country win visitors long after the football crowds leave AFCON 2027.

Uganda will co-host the Africa Cup of Nations with Kenya and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027. According to the article, the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, expects more than 1.5 million fans across the three countries. Their spending will create opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport providers, telecommunications companies and retailers, with farmers and food processors also able to supply the tournament economy. Ali’s argument is that Uganda should use that demand to build capabilities that survive the event.

A growing market, a practical service gap

The potential customer base is substantial. The Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, cited in the article, puts international Muslim arrivals at 196 million in 2025. It projects 208 million in 2026 and 262 million by 2030, alongside estimated annual spending of $310 billion by 2030. These are global figures, not forecasts for Uganda, but they show the scale of the market the country could seek to serve.

Uganda has improved its position, although gaps remain. The index ranks it 60th among 150 destinations, up from 66th in 2025, and 24th among destinations outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Its overall score was 46 out of 100. Ali identifies communication and the online visibility of Muslim-friendly services as areas needing attention. Travellers making reservations months ahead need clear information about food, accommodation and family-friendly services before they commit.

The Halal Assurance Institute Uganda, known as HAIU, is advancing Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Certification alongside its wider halal certification work. Halal refers to what is permitted under Islamic rules, including requirements affecting food. According to the article, the institute’s work covers hotels, restaurants, commercial kitchens, caterers and other providers. It includes finding compliance gaps, training staff, checking food traceability and separating products or processes where required. The commercial aim is to turn those controls into credible reassurance for guests.

Ali’s central argument: Uganda should judge its AFCON return by the tourism capabilities and visitor confidence left behind, not only by earnings during the tournament.

Building connections beyond the final whistle

The proposal is to make Muslim-friendly readiness part of broader hospitality preparations, rather than create a tourism industry exclusively for Muslim visitors. The article says CAF and the host governments are already working on accommodation, transport, airports, safety and visitor experience. Uganda’s local organising committee has also called for hospitality improvements. Ali argues that certification could complement this effort: trained workers, better kitchen controls and stronger food-safety systems would remain useful after the competition.

Gulf Cooperation Council markets are a particular focus. Ali points to their international air connections, spending power and growing commercial ties with Africa. Uganda could market wildlife trips, gorilla trekking, Nile experiences, cultural tourism and conference travel to these visitors. The opportunity would build on an existing industry: figures attributed to Uganda’s tourism ministry put international arrivals at 1.64 million in 2025 and tourism receipts at about $1.62 billion.

The next test is whether tournament preparations produce services that travellers can both trust and find. The developments to watch are certification uptake, staff training, clearer online information and stronger relationships with airlines, tour operators and booking platforms. Those are the links Ali identifies between a month of football demand and a more durable tourism business.