Ahead of Uganda’s upcoming AFCON qualifier against South Africa, calls for improved crowd control measures at sports venues are intensifying.
Security expert Dixon ‘Bond’ Okello, certified by CAF and FIFA, has recommended the establishment of a specialized Sports Police Unit dedicated to handling safety at large sports events.
According to Okello, creating such a unit would help address persistent crowd management challenges, such as the congestion and stampedes that have become recurring issues at Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
“In the UK, they have the Football Police Unit focused on ensuring security at football matches. We need a similar specialized unit here to manage crowd control at sports events,” Okello said during a recent interview on NTV Uganda.
Okello believes that without a dedicated force with expertise in sports security, Uganda may face stricter penalties from CAF, including the potential of playing matches behind closed doors if safety standards are not improved.
The proposed Sports Police Unit would be tasked with responsibilities similar to the UK’s Football Policing Unit, which is specifically trained to oversee crowd management and prevent overcrowding at sports events.
This unit in the UK coordinates with event organizers and stadium operators, deploying measures that range from pre-event fan control to secure entry and exit strategies, significantly reducing the risk of dangerous congestion and stampedes.
Mandela National Stadium’s managing director, Jamil Ssewanyana, explained the division of responsibilities at the stadium, emphasizing the need for specialized support.
“The stadium authority manages the facilities and infrastructure, but the actual control over events and crowd management falls to the organizers, like the federation or tournament committees,” Ssewanyana stated.
As Uganda’s sports scene continues to grow, with larger crowds expected at high-profile matches, the creation of a specialized Sports Police Unit could be an essential step in ensuring fan safety.
