Cranes players strike over bonus

Egypt's forward Marwan Mohsen (right) vies for the ball with Uganda's defender Hassan Wasswa during the AFCON match between Uganda and Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium in the Egyptian capital on Sunday. AFP photo

FUFA is in a dilemma after Uganda Cranes players refused to train yesterday over unpaid bonuses. The players who were supposed to conduct training at 7:00pm at the Arab Contractors Stadium, but did not show up.

It is reported that Cranes players are demanding $4,000 (sh15m) for the win against DR Congo and $2,000 (sh7m) for the 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe.

The Cranes strike comes at a time when they face Senegal in the round of 16 on Friday. Despite being on strike, FUFA President Moses Magogo recently assured Ugandans that players' bonus had been cleared.

FUFA received sh10b from the Government for AFCON, while CAF and FIFA also gave them $250,000 and $100,000 respectively in preparation for the tournament.

However, FUFA has also come out to clear the air, saying they paid the players all their outstanding allowances.

"FUFA wishes to affirm that matters of the rights and obligations of the members of the Uganda Cranes at the AFCON 2019 inclusive of the allowances and bonuses of the team were discussed and agreed upon by the team and were put into a document called the Code of Conduct. Every member of the team signed the Code of Conduct before being allowed into the camp," read the communication FUFA.

"During the camp in Uganda, each member was paid $30 amounting to $420 for the 14 days they spent. $150 was paid per member on the Cranes team for foreign camp in Abu Dhabi & Cairo (34 days ending June 30) amounting to $5,100. $4000 and $2000 was paid to every member in camp for the win against DR Congo and the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe," FUFA said.

FUFA also said they paid extra $2,780 to each player for camp morale and $300 for the International friendly match against Ivory Coast which they won 1-0.

As of July 2, FUFA revealed that each player had received up to $14,600 in daily allowances and winning bonuses.

According to FUFA, there is currently owe nothing to the players as per the signed Code of Conduct.