As Uganda prepares to host the prestigious African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 beginning August 2, 2025, the CHAN/AFCON Local Organising Committee Secretariat has today held a comprehensive media engagement session aimed at reaffirming the country’s preparedness and aligning the media with CAF’s professional reporting guidelines.
The engagement, held at the National Council of Sports (NCS) conference hall, followed the successful final inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials conducted on Thursday last week.
During the session, journalists were briefed not only on the tournament’s operational readiness but also on the dos and don’ts of international sports coverage, including CAF’s expectations on timeliness, accreditation, and responsible reporting.
The session was addressed by key figures, including Mr. Mark Namanya, PR and Communications Manager at the CHAN/AFCON Secretariat, Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairperson, Communications and Signage Committee of LoC,Rodgers Mulindwa, the Vice Chairman of the LoC Communications Committee, Mr. William Fredrick Blick, Ex Officio at LoC and Mr. Ahmed Hussein, the Communications Director for the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
Mr. Mark Namanya described the engagement as part of a broader effort to foster collaboration between the media and the organizing team, emphasizing that accurate and timely reporting will play a central role in the success of the tournament.
“We expect accredited journalists to be punctual, follow access protocols, and represent the country with excellence. This tournament is under CAF’s global lens, and Uganda’s image matters,” Namanya said.
He urged journalists to adhere to international standards of sports coverage, especially those outlined by CAF, which emphasize timekeeping, respect for media zones, uniform dress codes for press events, and maintaining journalistic integrity.
Infrastructure Progress and Nationwide Mobilization
Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba provided an update on infrastructure developments, the Mandela National Stadium– Namboole, and all major training pitches are up to standards, and CAF officials were impressed with the progress during their recent inspection.
He announced that a nationwide media and fan mobilization campaign will soon be rolled out under the theme, which will be communicated, aimed at increasing local ownership of the tournament.
The team present also emphasised that the upcoming CHAN 2024, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania, will be an opportunity not only to showcase football but to celebrate Uganda’s culture, hospitality, and readiness for major international events.