Lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi has expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granting approval to the joint bid named PAMOJA, involving Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, to host the African Cup of Nations in 2027, especially after their appeal for 2025 was withdrawn.
Recently, Lawyer Mabirizi has taken legal action against the Ugandan Government concerning the social and political standards within the country. This statement was met with mixed reactions from the majority of citizens in Uganda.
Mabirizi has corresponded with CAF, urging them to reconsider and reverse the decision based on grounds such as a lack of democratic leadership, denial of citizens’ right to a fair trial, the militarization of Kampala streets, absence of freedom of assembly, and prevalent corruption and nepotism in Uganda.
He has also contested the development of Mandela National Stadium, asserting that it came at the expense of people’s homes and properties. Mabirizi argues that the Uganda Football Association (FUFA) lacks legitimate leadership.
Mabirizi emphasized his request to CAF to exclude Uganda from organizing the 2027 African Cup of Nations, citing concerns about the safety and rights of the participants and visitors being compromised under President Museveni’s government.
Additionally, there have been allegations from credible sources suggesting that due to inadequate standard stadiums, Uganda has often relocated matches to neutral grounds in Morocco and Cameroon when hosting. However, FUFA claims to be renovating stadiums to meet CAF’s standards, including Mandela National Stadium, Nakivubo Stadium, and Denver Godwin Stadium in Garuga.
Amidst the controversies in Kampala City, a cartoonist named Jim Spire Ssentongo organized an exhibition titled ‘Kampala Porthole exhibition,’ adding fuel to the fire.
The perceived high corruption rate in Uganda has raised concerns among many, who fear a repetition of the embezzlement of public funds during the CHOGM reign in the ongoing 2027 AFCON. Lawyer Mabirizi is seen by some as an irrelevant figure in levying such charges and hindering Ugandan development.
During this week, Mabirizi also attempted to legally address the King of Buganda, His Highness Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, regarding land fund collections known locally as the ‘Busuulu’ project.
