By Judy Maina
NAIROBI, Kenya – In a significant move to enhance regional cooperation and streamline travel logistics for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have announced the introduction of a special multiple-entry visa, dubbed the ‘PAMOJA Visa.’
This initiative aims to facilitate seamless cross-border movement for players, officials, fans, and media personnel during the tournament, scheduled to take place from August 2 to August 30, 2025.
A Unified Approach to Regional Mobility
The PAMOJA Visa is designed to simplify the visa application process for international visitors attending CHAN 2025. While East African Community (EAC) citizens already benefit from existing protocols allowing free movement across borders using national IDs or passports, the new visa will primarily cater to visitors from outside the region. This includes Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials, international journalists, and football fans.
According to Juney Karisa, Head of Public Communications at Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, the proposal was discussed during a high-level virtual interministerial meeting.
The meeting, chaired by CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, also addressed updates on logistical preparations, including venue selection and infrastructure readiness.
Karisa emphasized that the PAMOJA Visa is among the key proposals supporting tournament operations, aiming to guarantee regional mobility and coordinate a unified security framework.
Infrastructure and Logistical Preparations
The three nations are in the final stages of selecting and preparing venues for CHAN 2025. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Salim Mvurya, confirmed that the country has already paid for the hosting rights and that earmarked venues meet the required standards.
He highlighted Kenya’s robust infrastructural investments and a well-established event ecosystem, ensuring readiness to support the extensive logistical operations needed for such a world-class event.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamisi Mwinjuma, echoed these sentiments, reaffirming their countries’ commitment to delivering a unified and seamless CHAN 2025.
They emphasized the importance of finalizing all venue and logistical arrangements promptly to enable advance teams to commence on-the-ground preparations.
Regional Integration and Future Prospects
The introduction of the PAMOJA Visa underscores the East African nations’ commitment to regional integration and cooperation. By simplifying travel logistics, the visa aims to foster a festive, secure, and unified atmosphere during CHAN 2025.
This initiative is seen as a stepping stone towards future collaborations in hosting major sporting events, showcasing the potential of a united East Africa.
