Kampala, Uganda: The government and Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) are facing growing public backlash over the poor publicity of the upcoming continental football tournament, with just days to kick off.
The CHAN 2024 tournament is officially set to start on Saturday, August 2, with Uganda hosting 12 matches at the Mandela National Stadium, but citizens and MPs have criticised the lack of visible national engagement and media presence, despite the magnitude of the event.
During Tuesday’s plenary sitting, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among questioned why there was no significant media buildup or fan mobilization for CHAN, comparing it to how the government heavily publicised the recent NAM and CSPOC summits earlier this year.
“When the country was hosting CSPOC and NAM Summit, the whole country was engaged and there was sufficient publicity. What happened with CHAN?” she asked.
According to local media outlet UgandansOnline.com, a section of lawmakers echoed public sentiment that the competition has not been marketed with the urgency or creativity it deserves, especially given the opportunity it presents for Uganda’s sports and tourism sectors.
However, the LOC is now racing against time to salvage the situation.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairperson of the Communications and Signage Sub-Committee, revealed that measures are being rolled out to boost public awareness and increase fan turnout for the tournament.
“We have allocated UGX 1 billion to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to coordinate advertising and promotions through radio, television, social media influencers, digital campaigns, public address systems, and community activations,” Dr. Mugimba said.
He revealed that FUFA will spend over UGX 200 million on targeted media adverts across radio, TV, and print, as well as digital influencers, community engagement drives, and fan mobilization within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, where the tournament will be hosted.
This publication also understands that LOC has now started erecting billboards across Kampala, though critics argue that these efforts are too late and limited in scope to generate the buzz required for such a prestigious CAF tournament.
CHAN 2024 will see Uganda host Group C teams: Uganda Cranes, Algeria, Guinea, Niger, and South Africa, with all matches to be played at the refurbished 32,000-seater Namboole Stadium.
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