SCANDAL: CAF exposes ‘Mafia’ in Ugandan Football who Hacked Ticketing System, Resold tickets at High prices, Locked out Fans

Uganda lost to Algeria 0-3

The opening weekend of the CHAN-2024 tournament has been thrown into a scandal after revelations that ticket scalpers manipulated the official sales syste leaving hundreds of football fans stranded outside Namboole Stadium as Uganda, Algeria, Guinea, and Niger kicked off Group C fixtures. 

In a strongly worded statement issued on August 7, 2025, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of CHAN-2024 confirmed that a “few unscrupulous individuals” exploited the limited number of physical tickets distributed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), purchasing them in bulk and reselling them at more than double the official price. 

“The few physical tickets CAF availed to FUFA for sale were taken advantage of by a few people who bought them in large quantities, only to re-sell them at more than double the price that CAF had set,” said Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairperson of the LOC’s Communications and Signage Sub-Committee. 

“As the LOC, we condemn this practice of taking advantage of our football fans,” he added. 

Match Day One Turns into Chaos 

The crisis erupted on August 4, 2025—Match Day One—when eager fans trying to secure tickets for the 5:00 p.m. kickoff between Niger and Guinea, followed by Uganda vs Algeria, were left confused and disappointed. 

Despite reports of visibly empty seats inside the newly refurbished Namboole Stadium, thousands of supporters were unable to access tickets either online or at the venue. 

According to the LOC, CAF had strictly limited the number of available tickets as a safety measure, part of a broader protocol applied across all host countries Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. 

This scarcity created an opening for ticket hoarders, who had already cornered the market on the few physical tickets available. These were then sold at inflated prices outside official channels. 

Official Ticket Prices vs. Black Market Exploitation 

CAF’s approved ticket prices were meant to ensure affordable access for all fans: 

Ordinary ticket – UGX 10,000 per day 

Silver ticket – UGX 30,000 per day 

Premium ticket – UGX 50,000 per day 

But desperate fans on Match Day One reported paying over UGX 60,000 for a regular ticket, while premium tickets fetched as high as UGX 150,000 on the black market. 

Many of the tickets were allegedly being resold through WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and street touts operating covertly around Kampala, despite CAF’s ban on informal sales near the stadium. 

Digital Sales Model Under Pressure 

In response, the LOC defended its role, clarifying that the entire ticketing system is managed by CAF and not by FUFA or the local organizers. 

CAF’s system prioritizes digital sales and allows fans to purchase up to five tickets per fixture through mobile money (MTN MoMo, Airtel Money) or card (Visa/MasterCard). 

For larger institutional requests, only direct engagement with the LOC and CAF is permitted. 

CAF has also moved to block unauthorized vendors and has instituted a ban on ticket sales near match venues. So far, no illicit vending activity has been recorded at Namboole, although the LOC acknowledges the black-market trade may have shifted to digital platforms. 

Looking Ahead: Algeria vs. South Africa, Guinea vs. Uganda 

As the tournament moves into Match Day Two—with Algeria set to face South Africa and Guinea clashing with Uganda—the LOC is urging fans to buy tickets early and exclusively online to avoid being preyed upon. 

CAF’s long-term solution, officials say, is a fully digital ticketing system for future tournaments, including AFCON-2027, in a bid to eliminate ticket hoarding and restore fairness in access to African football’s biggest stages.