The countdown to one of Africa’s biggest football events begins in earnest this Friday, July 25, as President Museveni is expected to preside over the official launch of the CHAN 2024 Uganda Chapter at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The president’s expected presence was confirmed by Minister of State for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, who took to social media platform X to share the update.
“This high-level continental event marks a significant milestone in our sports tourism sector and sets the stage for the prestigious #AFCON2027, which will be hosted on Ugandan soil for the first time ever,” Ogwang posted.
The invitation to President Museveni was extended by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, who also chairs the Local Organising Committee for Uganda’s role in the tournament.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, scheduled for August 2025, will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania — a rare regional collaboration that positions East Africa at the centre of African football.
With 19 national teams set to compete, including continental giants like Nigeria, Morocco, DR Congo, and defending champions Senegal, the tournament is expected to generate massive interest across Africa.
Uganda, alongside its co-hosts, will welcome teams such as Zambia, Angola, Niger, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo, Sudan, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Tanzania, among others.
The month-long competition kicks off on August 2, 2025, at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The climax will take place in Nairobi at the newly refurbished Kasarani Stadium on August 30, a facility modernized with substantial support from the Kenyan government.
Friday’s launch in Kololo is more than ceremonial it is the symbolic ignition of Uganda’s final lap toward hosting not just CHAN, but also the much-anticipated AFCON 2027, which will mark the first time Uganda hosts the prestigious tournament.
Uganda’s sports sector has experienced a revival in recent years, with strategic government investments in infrastructure and talent development.
The dual hosting of CHAN and AFCON is now seen as a litmus test for the country’s ambitions on the continental sporting stage.
