Funding Infrastructure For Africa’s Premier Football Tournament
The decision comes as the government anticipates a substantial rise in lottery and gaming revenue in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Uganda’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija, announced that funds generated from gaming and betting taxes will be allocated to enhance sports infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This move follows the government’s expectation of a significant boost in gambling sector revenue.
In the 2022/23 fiscal year, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board exceeded its targets, collecting Shs33bn ($8.87m) and transferring Shs193bn to the National Treasury.
With the introduction of new operators like ITHUBA Uganda, the government expects lottery and gaming revenues to reach at least Shs300bn in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
ITHUBA, as Uganda’s first national lottery operator, has already invested Shs51.8bn and set up jackpots worth Shs2.8bn across various games.
Given these developments, the national lottery is projected to generate Shs87bn in gaming tax and Shs60bn in non-tax revenue.
For the 2024/25 fiscal year, the sports sector’s priorities include constructing Hoima Stadium, with an estimated cost of Shs280bn, and renovating Namboole Stadium.
Parliament has approved Shs152bn for the Hoima project, which is part of Uganda’s joint Pamoja bid with other East African nations to host AFCON 2027. The current budget also sets aside Shs110bn for building training facilities nationwide.
Additionally, Uganda is required to contribute $30m in commitment fees for hosting rights, a cost shared with other East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania.
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