Today Friday, 25th July, 2025 I attended the launch of CHAN 2024 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. The special guest of honor was H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, accompanied by the Minister of Education and Sports, the First Lady Janet Museveni. There were many more government officials who were present, such as the President of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Engineer Moses Magogo, H.E. Veronica M. Nduva, Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC); the Ambassador of Ethiopia, H.E. Binalf Andualem Ashenef, Ambassador of Kenya, H.E. Joash Maangi and many more.

When we (I went with David Serumaga and David Balilete) arrived at Kololo at 1pm, from Uganda Media Centre, we were served lunch. It was a sunny day. I was seated in the tent opposite President Museveni’s tent; when he arrived around 2:20pm that was the moment everyone was waiting for! Everyone was excited, they stood to their feet and began recording videos of him on their smartphones. The entertainment also boosted people’s mood. Levixone, a Ugandan gospel singer; Jose Chameleon, skaters and cultural dancers provided entertainment on a circular stage.

In her speech, Janet Museveni said, “Our co-hosting CHAN-2024 is a testament of God’s goodness, to announce to all who see and hear, that He has His timing and His time has come. This is the season to confirm to all of us that indeed we have recovered from the past. Just like He said in the Bible, when His time to free the children of Israel from slavery came, He said He remembered them and nothing could stop their exodus to the promised land.”

Since Uganda is co-hosting the CHAN-2024 tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania, I am filled with overwhelming national pride. This moment was not just about football; it was about how far we have come as the East African Community. Here we are, not just as participants but as hosts, standing tall beside our East African brothers and sisters under the banner of PAMOJA—a Swahili word meaning togetherness or unity.

If I can take you back past the years of conflict, instability this tournament is nothing short of a miracle. There was a time when the idea of Uganda hosting a continental football event would have been dismissed as a distant dream. Our sports stadiums lay in disrepair and were falling apart. But now we have Namboole Stadium, which will be the venue of a CHAN 24 football match between Uganda and Algeria on Monday, 4th August, 2025.

Sports, especially football, has always been more than just a game for some of us. President Museveni mentioned four stages of sports at the event. “There are four major stages of football; that is stamina and determination, teamwork, skills and health. Football provides entertainment and builds faith for the country. Football is the heartbeat of our communities.” In villages, towns and schools, you’ll find kids kicking makeshift balls, dreaming of becoming the next Onyango. CHAN 2024 gives them hope as future players, coaches and sports leaders. The fact that Algeria, Niger, Guinea and South Africa will play on Ugandan soil is a testament to the faith the continent has placed in us.

President Museveni was dressed in a beige safari hat, an oversized white shirt, a pair of black trousers and black shoes juggled a yellow football on his knees. Then he pressed the buzzer on the podium to officially launch CHAN 2024.

I want to appreciate the government’s investment in upgrading our sports infrastructure. It is commendable, but the victory lies in the long term legacy. These stadiums: Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku, and Kyambogo Sports Grounds will nurture future generations of talent, inspire young athletes who will serve as national treasures, showing what we can achieve when we work together.

But still some people ask, “Why spend so much on sports when we have other challenges?” But most people know football isn’t just a game. It’s job for vendors, provides opportunities for music artists, unity for divided communities and a reason for Ugandans to be proud. When the whole nation gathers to cheer, even for one moment, we forget our differences and become one.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the government, Confederation of African Football and the local organizing committee for organizing this event.

A Third Year Student at Cavendish University Uganda