Following a difficult opening match for Ugandan fans at the CHAN 2024 tournament, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has officially apologized and promised to resolve the issues.
The tournament’s first game, held at Namboole Stadium on Monday, August 4, saw Uganda lose 3-0 to Algeria. However, many fans left the stadium with complaints far beyond the final score.
Fans with valid tickets reported chaos with the seating arrangements, which they described as a jumbled mess of numbered seats. In addition to the disorganization, many attendees were frustrated by the lack of food and drinks available inside the stadium.
What the Local Organizing Committee Is Doing
In a press conference held at the AFCON secretariat in Lugogo, Mark Namanya, the spokesperson for the LOC, acknowledged the public’s frustration. “It’s not intentional negligence, but now that we have seen the issues, it won’t happen again,” he stated. Namanya confirmed that the committee has met with CAF officials to find solutions and implement them for future matches.
He assured the public that for the upcoming match on Friday, August 8, food and drinks will be available and affordable. Additionally, the LOC is addressing the entry difficulties some fans experienced. “We are careful to ensure everyone with a ticket enters comfortably and happily, but we are still learning because this is the first time we have had a tournament of this scale,” Namanya explained, emphasizing that they are taking steps to ensure smooth entry for all attendees.
Upcoming Match: Uganda vs. Guinea
Uganda is now preparing for its second CHAN 2024 match against Guinea. The game is scheduled for Friday, August 8, at 2:00 PM at Namboole Stadium. The team hopes to bounce back from their opening defeat, while the LOC is focused on providing a much-improved experience for the fans.
