Invest in sports, DP urges Govt

The Democratic Party (DP) has called upon government to support the nation's sports fraternity.

This can be done through investing in young talent by putting up football academies for young people between the ages of about seven to fifteen years as a way of nurturing their talents into professional sportsmen.   

This comes amid the ongoing criticism of the national team the Uganda Cranes by a section of Ugandans who are unhappy with their performances in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon. 

"We call upon the government to invest in sports because we don't expect to lift the Africa Cup Of Nations as an event, we have to invest in advance in our young people from which the nation can reap" said Kenneth Paul Kakande, the party's spokesperson. 

This was during the weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala. 

The party thanked and congratulated the Uganda Cranes for the fight that the team put up in Gabon while competing with the best. 

"Uganda is one the best teams on the continent, we gave those teams a very hard time though lack was not Uganda's side, the Egyptians are one of the best, seven times champions, and we gave them a run of their money and they managed to score just one goal in the 93^rd minute" said Kakande. 

Kakande also blasted those who are criticizing the national team saying that it is not time to condemn them because they carry the country's flag. 

"This is the time to encourage them because they have great potential; we call upon the country to unite behind the Uganda Cranes. We should be proud of them and we call upon all factions in the football administration to bury the hatchet and focus on supporting the Uganda Cranes" he said. 

"We are disappointed as a party that we promised sh500,000 per goal scored and none has been scored, however we still stand on our promise and we are waiting for the end of the tournament after which we shall sit as a party to see how we can reward our boys for the good work done" he added. 

Kakande also revealed that the party is still committed to the aspect of dialogue over the country's challenges stating that there was a review of the Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) Memorandum of Understanding which took place last week in Bugolobi. 

This he said was attended by all leaders from parliamentary political parties including those from the ruling NRM party who made submissions and substantive contributions.

"Besides being Ugandans with different political inclinations and ideologies, we believe that somewhere there is a zone of possible agreement and thus the need for dialogue. We only need to agree on the modalities and DP is ready to spearhead this journey," said Kakande.