Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are moving to put in place a joint visa arrangement that will allow football fans and other visitors to move more easily across the three countries when they host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The proposed PAMOJA Visa Framework is expected to simplify cross-border travel for fans, national teams, officials, accredited journalists, sponsors, suppliers and other people involved in the tournament, while also easing the movement of goods and equipment needed for the continental competition.
The three countries made the commitment during a high-level meeting between the PAMOJA Oversight Council and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), where they reviewed preparations for the tournament and discussed measures needed to ensure a smooth hosting process.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya joined his counterparts from Uganda and Tanzania in assuring CAF that their governments were committed to advancing and putting the proposed visa framework into operation.
“Each Host Nation has assessed the requirements within its jurisdiction and committed to undertaking the necessary measures towards its implementation,” the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports said in a statement.
The framework will cover immigration and customs arrangements, including the movement of tournament-related goods and equipment between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
For Kenya, the proposed system is also expected to support the government’s wider efforts to make entry into the country and movement across the region easier for African visitors, while promoting greater regional mobility.
The meeting was chaired by CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu and brought together CAF officials, sports ministers from the three host countries, presidents of the respective CAF member associations, local organising committee officials, principal secretaries and other senior government officials.
Beyond the visa arrangements, the meeting assessed the progress being made on infrastructure for PAMOJA AFCON 2027. Kenya reported progress in the construction and upgrading of stadiums, training grounds and other facilities that will support the tournament.
Mvurya welcomed CAF’s positive assessment of the progress made so far, as well as recommendations issued through the football governing body’s ongoing assessment and inspection process.
The Kenyan government said it would continue working to implement CAF’s recommendations within the set timelines and ensure that facilities are ready and meet the required standards before the tournament begins.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania also reaffirmed their commitment to delivering what they described as a “successful, memorable and transformational PAMOJA AFCON 2027”.
The three governments said preparations would be guided by close coordination, disciplined execution and a shared commitment to excellence. They also pointed to the importance of having a unified tournament identity and coordinated decision-making across the three host countries.
PAMOJA AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, bringing one of Africa’s biggest sporting events to East Africa and placing the three countries at the centre of the continental football calendar.
The host nations said the tournament could help present East Africa as a “welcoming and competitive destination” while creating opportunities in tourism and investment.
They further said hosting the competition could strengthen regional integration and leave behind sporting and economic infrastructure that would continue to benefit communities after the tournament ends.