President Museveni offers sh700m to sports fraternity

By James Bakama

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has answered national athletics and football federation pleas for financial support with a sh700m annual offer.

Uganda Athletics Federation and FUFA will, starting next financial year, be annually receiving sh350m each.

The offer follows a request by UAF who asked for more support at a dinner hosted by the President at State House, Entebbe last month. Similarly, Museveni while on a visit to the Cranes camp at Namboole also promised to assist the soccer body.

UAF head Domenic Otucet during the dinner Museveni hosted for Uganda’s All Africa Games team highlighted the challenges the federation faces in grooming medallists.

In response, Mueseveni, in an October 26 letter to Otucet, commended the games team particularly the medallists.

“By copy of this letter, therefore, I now direct the Minister of Finance to contribute sh350m each year to run the association,” wrote Museveni.

Museveni promised even more. “Additionally, when the financial situation allows, my State House Comptroller, Lucy Nakyobe, will provide the association with a bus to transport athletes.”

Besides the sh350m offer to FUFA, Museveni has also directed that those who make it to the national soccer team be given a stipend of at least sh1m per month.

“Similarly, anybody who earns a medal should also be given a similar stipend until he or she retires from active competition. All these players should also be fixed in government departments like Army, Police, Prisons, etc.”

“Let the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Sports discuss all this with the football association,” directed Museveni.

The letter is copied to the Vice President, Prime Minister and the Education and Sports ministry, Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Head of Public Service, Secretary to the Treasury and Acting State House Comptroller.

Education and Sports State Minister Charles Bakkabulindi was full of praise for Museveni. “This is a very good gesture. It is proof that the president has very good intentions for sports.”

Otucet was also moved by the news. “It is very exciting. It shows that his Excellency appreciates what athletics is doing. We shall use the money to facilitate athletes and coaches.” The money covers a substantial part of UAF’s sh800m annual budget.

FUFA publicist Rogers Mulinwa described the offer as very brilliant and timely.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time than now when we are preparing for the next qualifiers,” He promised that the money would be a basis for improvement but appealed for even more support.

Museveni in a morale boosting move ahead of a decisive Nations Cup match recently also gave the Cranes sh50m. This was a year after offering a bus to the team.