With just six days remaining until the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup kicks off, the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) has assured fans, Ugandans, and other stakeholders of a seamless tournament.
The event, which will be broadcast live on NBS Sport, will be held from July 18th to 29th at Namboole and Wankulukuku stadiums, featuring eight nations: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Namibia, Senegal, Kenya, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Zimbabwe.
In a recent Twitter space hosted by the Uganda Rugby Union and moderated by Desire Derekford Mugumisa, Emmanuel Fudribo, the International Local Organizing Committee (ILOC) chairman, provided a comprehensive update on the tournament’s preparations.
He expressed confidence in Uganda’s readiness to host the tournament, emphasizing that they have already achieved a number of milestones regarding the hosting of the event.
“We have some very big milestones behind the scenes that we’ve actually achieved. Two weeks ago, we managed to get certification to conduct a successful HIA (Head Injury Assessment) during the games, meaning that as Uganda, we can now do HIA.”
The certification makes Uganda one of only two countries in Africa, alongside South Africa, to be certified for Head Injury Assessment procedures.
Addressing the recent weather challenges, Fudribo said, “The weather has changed in the past few days. That means that we have to readjust our thinking in terms of the plans, so the challenge has grown.”
However, he expressed confidence in the organisers’ ability to deliver a successful tournament, stating, “We’re actually pretty confident that we shall deliver a very successful tournament.”
Additionally, the organisers have ensured the availability of the right camera angles to facilitate the use of a Television Match Official (TMO) during the matches. A TMO is a television match official that assists the referee in determining whether points have been secured or foul play has been committed.
Regarding the ticketing arrangements, Fudribo revealed the pricing structure, with ordinary tickets priced at UGX 20,000, VIP tickets at UGX 50,000, and the exclusive VVIP (Platinum) tickets costing UGX 150,000.
Security has been a top priority for the organisers, with Fudribo assuring fans of maximum security during the games. “This is a tournament that the government is well vested in. It has extended its arms of security to us. We have worked comprehensively with the Police and we are also working with a security team to ensure safety for the fans,” he said.
He also emphasized the organisers’ desire to make the tournament accessible to as many people as possible, and they have plans to put in place train services to offer a wholesome experience for the fans. “There have been conversations with the railway service providers, and we are in the final stages of those discussions for transportation of fans from Kampala to Namboole.”
Uganda will face off against Zimbabwe in their opening match on July 20th, while other quarterfinal matchups will see Namibia take on Burkina Faso, Kenya face Senegal, and Algeria battle Ivory Coast.
Godwin Kayangwe Arinaitwe, the Uganda Rugby Union President, acknowledged the challenges faced but expressed confidence in the organising committee’s ability to deliver a memorable event. He said, “There have been a lot of challenges that we cannot speak about publicly, but we have been striving here and there to make sure that we hold a memorable event.”
The Rugby Cranes 15s squad is currently in a crucial training camp in Jinja, with the final 28-man squad expected to be announced by the end of this weekend.
The traveling teams will arrive in Uganda by July 18th, and the tournament’s first game will kick off on July 20th, culminating in the final on July 29th.
