President Yoweri Museveni has personally handed over shs2.4 billion to the Uganda Cranes, a pledge he made to the team ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Uganda co-hosted with Kenya and Tanzania.
President Museveni pledged shs1.2 billion for each win to Uganda Cranes team during CHAN 2024.
The Uganda Cranes, who were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by Senegal, won two games, earning them the full shs2.4 billion reward.
“This evening, Maama and I hosted the Uganda Cranes for dinner at Entebbe after their commendable performance in the tournament,” President Museveni said.
“I took the opportunity to share a brief analysis of their game. As I joined Maama to watch the Cranes playing against Algeria recently in Nakasero, I reflected on a principle I often teach in the military: every Force has an Area of Responsibility (AOR). When everyone goes on the offensive and leaves the defense and goalkeeper exposed, the opponent can easily exploit that gap. That was my analysis of the game. However, as we say in Swahili, ‘Tafadhali,’ our team’s efforts cannot go unappreciated. The Cranes fought valiantly,” he wrote.
President Museveni also emphasized the importance of motivation in building capacity and rewarding effort.
“As promised, we have fulfilled our pledge to them, as motivation is an essential part of building capacity,” he said.
He further commended the Local Organizing Committee, chaired by First Lady Janet Museveni, for their role in successfully hosting Uganda’s first continental tournament.
“Finally, I want to congratulate the Local Organizing Committee for successfully hosting our first continental tournament, in partnership with Kenya and Tanzania. This event was not only a sports competition but also a lesson in unity and regional capacity,” Museveni said.
The UGX 2.4 billion reward is part of the government’s efforts to recognize and incentivize national sports teams, encouraging them to perform at the highest level while fostering national pride.