Ugandan football fans attending the highly anticipated match between the Uganda Cranes and Senegal at Namboole Stadium this Saturday have been given a stern warning: leave the offensive jerseys at home.
The directive comes from the event organisers who are cracking down on attire with inappropriate inscriptions.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Diana Nabuuso, a member of the Communications and Signage Committee, stated that any supporter wearing jerseys with “inappropriate wording or disrespecting public image” will be denied entry. “We encourage discipline, respect, and unity from all supporters,” she said, emphasising that this measure aims to maintain public decency during the high-stakes game.
The move addresses a recent trend where fans wear jerseys branded with viral slang and social media catchphrases from platforms like TikTok and Facebook, some of which organisers consider a risk to public decency.
Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, the Chairperson of the Communications and Signage Sub-Committee, also addressed fan concerns regarding stadium capacity and ticket sales.
He clarified that even when tickets sell out, not all 38,000 seats at Namboole will be occupied.
This is a safety precaution mandated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which requires a buffer of approximately 4,000 seats. As a result, the effective sellout number for the stadium is 34,006.
The Uganda Cranes are currently leading their group, and the match against the defending champions, Senegal, is expected to attract a massive crowd.
Organisers are urging fans to be disciplined and represent Uganda positively on the continental stage with their choice of attire.
