President Yoweri Museveni has placed sport as a key sector of the NRM’s 2026–2031 manifesto, unveiling an investment plan worth more than Shs 1.4 trillion to strengthen infrastructure, talent development, and youth employment.
The program prioritizes new stadiums in Hoima and Lira, the upgrade of Mandela National Stadium, and the completion of the National High-Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa.
Government also pledged to continue expanding modern facilities nationwide to bring more regions up to international standard.
At the grassroots, schools are set to play a greater role in talent identification, supported by regional creative hubs that will double as sports development centers.
Private sector academies are expected to receive more support to create a clear pathway from youth competitions to professional levels.
On the continental stage, Museveni committed to ensuring Uganda successfully co-hosts the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Kenya and Tanzania, while also using events like CHAN and AFCON to attract further investment and exposure.
The manifesto further places sport within Uganda’s broader creative economy, alongside music, film, fashion, and the arts.
By linking athletics to a projected USD 600 billion global sports market, the NRM frames sport not only as recreation but as a driver of jobs, wealth creation, and tourism.
Museveni stressed that the sector will be central to youth employment and the wider socio-economic transformation agenda, with sport positioned as both a cultural asset and an economic engine.
