As excitement builds for tonight’s CHAN 2024 showdown between Uganda and South Africa, a darker issue has taken center stage: widespread ticketing chaos that has left many fans frustrated and 12 behind bars.
Police confirmed the arrest of 12 individuals caught selling fake tickets for the high-stakes group stage match, which sold out just hours after going on sale last week. But for many, the arrests are only part of a bigger, more troubling story.
“How can tickets disappear within hours, only to reappear at triple the price on the streets?” asked one disappointed fan who had queued online in vain.
Rumors have swirled that certain individuals snapped up tickets in bulk, reselling them to desperate fans willing to pay a premium creating a black market that authorities are now scrambling to control.
Kampala Police admitted that while some tickets were legitimate, others were either duplicated or fake altogether. “Only the first person to scan a ticket at the gate will be allowed in. Any duplicates will be rejected,” said a police source, highlighting the risk even for unsuspecting buyers who believed their ticket was real.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the arrests and urged fans to steer clear of unofficial sellers. “If tickets are sold out, don’t fall for shortcuts. There’s no trick that will get you into Namboole without a valid online ticket,” he warned.
But for many fans, the problem goes beyond counterfeiters. It’s about access, transparency, and trust. The system, they argue, seems rigged against the everyday supporter and until that’s addressed, fake tickets may just keep slipping through the cracks.
