CECAFA president Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam has backed Rwanda’s bid to host the next three editions of the CECAFA Kagame Cup, saying the country’s world-class sports infrastructure and strong government support make it best placed to ensure the competition’s continuity. The regional club competition returns to Kigali for the first time since 2019, with the 2026 edition scheduled to run from July 24 to August 7. Since the last tournament was held in Rwanda, the competition has struggled with consistency, with the 2022 and 2023 editions cancelled due to a combination of financial challenges and inadequate hosting capacity among member associations. ALSO READ: What you need to know about 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, Andemariam said Rwanda is currently ahead of other CECAFA member nations in terms of readiness to host the competition. “Rwanda is more ready than the other members,” Andemariam said. He praised the country’s sports infrastructure, particularly the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium, as well as its organisational standards and continued government investment in sport. These factors, he said, put Rwanda in a strong position to host future editions of the tournament. In June, Rwanda FA president Fabrice Shema confirmed that the country wants to host the CECAFA Kagame Cup for the next three years, a proposal Andemariam said the CECAFA executive committee will consider. “There should be a formal request from each of our members, and the decision on who will host the tournament next is made by the Executive Committee. The committee assesses how ready each member is, and right now, Rwanda is more ready than the other members,” he said. Andemariam explained that while several member associations have expressed interest in hosting the tournament, many still lack the infrastructure, quality stadiums, accommodation facilities and financial capacity required to organise a successful competition. ALSO READ: Taleb targets CECAFA Kagame Cup glory after signing new APR FC deal The CECAFA Kagame Cup has been sponsored by President Paul Kagame since 2002, when the tournament was renamed from the CECAFA Club Championship. According to Andemariam, continued government backing has played a key role in sustaining the competition over the years. Rwanda FA second vice president Richard Mugisha said the country’s immediate focus is on delivering a successful 2026 tournament before turning its attention to a bid to host the next three editions. “The willingness is there from the federation to the government, but let us first deliver this edition successfully. The rest will follow,” Mugisha said. Looking ahead, Andemariam also hinted at a significant increase in the tournament’s prize money in future editions. This year’s prize money remains unchanged, with the winners receiving $30,000, the runners-up $20,000 and the third-placed team $10,000. However, Andemariam said new sponsorship opportunities could pave the way for increased rewards. While Al Hilal SC sponsored the tournament $100,000 for the 2026 edition, he said that several potential sponsors have expressed interest in partnering with CECAFA, raising hopes of a stronger and more financially sustainable competition in the years ahead.
