Uganda Cranes Players Remind Museveni Of Unfulfilled shs380 Billion Pledge

BY GLORIA NAMUKASA

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA NEWS| As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bite hard with no hopes yt for the sports arena to return to the public life, Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango has led his colleagues in petitioning President Yoweri Museveni, via social media, to fulfil a $ 1 million (shs380b) pledge he made to the team after its participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Mamelodi Sundowns keeper told the Head of State the ‘timing was right’ for the team to get the cash considering the coronavirus pandemic.

MUSEVENI’S PLEDGE

President Museveni promised the players and officials the amount last July but the money is yet to be received.

“Greetings @KagutaMuseveni, in these tough Covid-19 times, we find the timing right to remind you about the $1 million promise after Afcon last year. We feel frustrated and happy our token of appreciation hangs in the balance. Please intervene,” said Onyango.

CRANES’ FLIGHT

Similar sentiments have been echoed by Moses Waiswa, Farouk Miya, Allan Kateregga, Hassan Wasswa, Taddeo Lwanga, Salim Jamal and Abdul Lumala.

Uganda were eliminated in the round of 16 stage by Senegal after beating DR Congo, drawing with Zimbabwe and losing to hosts Egypt.

The captain of Uganda’s national football team said on Tuesday he and his team mates are seeking clarity on a $1 million pledge that President Yoweri Museveni made to the players last year after their participation in the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

The cash pledged would be shared among the players and help them deal with the financial struggles caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, said Denis Onyango, who was voted the best African-based player of 2016.

The Cranes, as they are known, made a surprising run to the last 16 in Egypt last July before losing 1-0 to eventual finalists Senegal.

Their campaign in Cairo was marred by a payment row with players refusing to train at one point. The disagreement was resolved after the Ugandan Football Federation (FUFA) said it had offered the players an additional $6,000 each.

Upon the team’s return to Uganda, they were invited to a gathering with Museveni at State House in the capital Entebbe where the head of state made the pledge, Onyango said.

“We were invited to the State House and he promised us something,” the goalkeeper told Reuters in a phone interview from South Africa where he plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in the country’s top league.

“We’ve tried all means of getting to him but we failed,” Onyango added.

“Sports has been hit more because people can’t gather, people can’t come around to watch football.”

Museveni’s press secretary, Don Wanyama, said the players’ message reached the president.

“A reminder has been sent to the president to respond to it,” Wanyama said.