Cranes friendly in Egypt on amid violent protests

By Pius Arinawe

Uganda Cranes' international friendly against Egypt will go on as planned despite unrest following mass protests that have so far claimed at least 60 lives including university students.

FUFA spokesperson Rogers Mulindwa said he was not aware of the severity of the situation in Egypt but expected the tie to go ahead nonetheless.

“As far as we know the game will go on as planned. The riots are in a different part of the country and we haven’t gotten any indication by our hosts that the match won’t be played” Mulindwa stated.

There was no official confirmation of the deaths at Rabaa al-Adawiya, in northeast Cairo, where police opened fire on camp housing thousands of supporters demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Mursi.

The violence which began at around 7 am came after international efforts failed to mediate an end to a six-week political standoff between Mursi's supporters and the army-backed government which took power after his ouster on July 3.

Two members of the Egyptian security forces were also reportedly shot dead as they tried to disperse the irate protesters.