Museveni promises jobs to sportsmen

By Norman Katende in Entebbe

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has called for a criterion to support sports personalities as a way of government paying them back for flying the national flag high.

In his speech as he hosted the All Africa Games team at State House Nakesero Thursday, the President said that the government had not yet fully re-organized sports because there were still a number of issues like health and security to follow up.

“We have not been organized because of the problems in the past but we are getting more organized. I want to discuss with your leaders how best to start supporting athletes and footballers all over the country,” the president said in a speech to the athletes.

The President has of recent shown support to sports. He made over five calls to the team at the All Africa Games and also made an appearance at the National senior soccer team while training for Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Kenya. Uganda went on to draw the game on Saturday and failed to advance to the finals.

Museveni suggested that government should find a way of seeing that sportsmen who excel to a certain level are fixed in the public service so that they get steady jobs and salary, while those still in school can also be supported.

“We need to put a criterion that once we win a medal, we will support you or when you are called up to the national team.  There should be a minimum of how to qualify. These sorts people are so many that we need to have a way of selecting as we cannot help all of them.”

Museveni also topped the $100 that was deducted from all the athletes to cater for expenses amidst clapping.

“I will top-up all the money for all the people that were in Maputo,” he said reminding the people that he called the team and encouraged them while in Maputo.

Earlier, state sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi had told the President that there was a need to prepare early for international games.

The president also told the minister to look for 76-year-old Patrick Etolu, who was the first Ugandan to represent Uganda in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, together with the likes of Grace Seruwagi and Tom Kawere.

“I want to see them. Look for them and make sure that I talk to them,” he repeatedly said.