Museveni pledges to clear bonuses for Cranes players

Nov 10, 2016

Each player will get $15000 (about sh52m)

The Uganda Cranes players are inspired to dispatch Congo Brazzaville in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers at Mandela National Stadium Namboole on Saturday.

This follows President Yoweri Museveni's pledge to reward each player $15000 (about sh52m) in bonuses for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in September.

Museveni made the pledge during a State Banquet for the national team at State House Entebbe on Thursday.

"That (bonus) is not a problem. We can even equal Zambia. I will discuss it with the minister at night. I congratulate you for this achievement. This is just a way of appreciating you. Thank you very much," Museveni told the players.

 

 

 

The President made the offer after FUFA president Moses Magogo said financial constraints had hindered the local football federation from fulfilling a pledge of $10000 for each player in the team.

Citing other countries like Zambia who pay their players tournament bonuses to the tune of $15000, Magogo appealed for government support.

"As I have always said before, it would be very easy to help sportsmen when they are together in forces like police, army and prisons.

I can see there is a lot of nomadism. How do you gain cohesion when you are from different places?" Museveni wondered. He however promised to study the cause of nomadism in football.

In her remarks, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, thanked the team for the big win.

resident useveni and irst ady anet useveni interact with the players at tate ouse ntebbe hoto by palanyi sentongo President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni interact with the players at State House Entebbe. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

 

 

 

"Today is indeed a beautiful day when we come together representing all Ugandans to honour the Uganda Cranes team and to thank God for the very big win he gave us on that memorable day of September 4th when Uganda, after a 38 year wait, qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. I cannot stop thanking God for that victory, indeed may His name be praised!" she said.

The banquet was also attended by the Minister in charge of Kampala, Beti Kamya and Sports State Minister Charles Bakkabulindi and Airtel Uganda managing director Anwar Soussa.

While thanking the government and all the Cranes sponsors for supporting the team, the First Lady also called for the need for accountability and transparency.

"This is where I would like to also thank those who support us through sports and inform you that it would also be good to know what your contributions to the sports sector have been so that there is proper accountability and the nation can salute you. The Ministry of Education and Sports would like to promote transparency now," she added.

 

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