| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Malawi |
| Dates | November 1–19 |
| Teams | 5 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Malawi (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Zambia |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 14 |
| Goals scored | 45 (3.21 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Godfrey Chitalu (11 goals) |
The 1978 CECAFA Cup was the 6th edition of the tournament. It was held in Malawi, and was won by the hosts. The matches were played between November 1 and 19.