The president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), Moses Magogo, has dismissed claims that ticket prices for Uganda Cranes matches at Namboole Stadium are too high, stating that many journalists who criticize the pricing do not pay for entry themselves.
There has been growing public frustration over what fans consider expensive tickets for national team matches.
Comparisons with other countries’ ticket prices have fueled the debate, with many arguing that Uganda’s charges are relatively high, discouraging attendance.
The issue resurfaced after Uganda’s recent 1-0 victory over Guinea in a World Cup qualifier. The match saw a disappointingly low turnout, which some attributed to the Shs 30,000 price for a regular ticket.
Responding to the criticism on FUFA TV, Magogo dismissed the claims, suggesting that journalists leading the debate do not pay to attend matches.
“Those journalists who paint a bad picture that we overprice the games don’t even pay entrance fees,” Magogo said.
He further alleged that some journalists have an agenda to tarnish Fufa’s reputation.
“Fans, do you really think these journalists care about you more than your interests?They are working for someone else, reporting to undermine the positive initiatives we are implementing,”he said.
Magogo also defended the current pricing structure by comparing it to 2017 rates, insisting that the costs remain reasonable.
“The ticket that cost Shs25,000 in 2011 is now equivalent to Shs67,000 today.”
His remarks have since sparked heated discussions among sports journalists, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), with many questioning whether they should be required to pay for access to their workplace.
