President Museveni fulfills pledge, rewards Uganda Cranes with 2.4 billion shillings
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has fulfilled his substantial financial pledge to the Uganda Cranes following their performance in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The President had promised the national football team 1.2 billion Ugandan shillings for each victory during the tournament, which was co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. With the Cranes securing two wins a 3-0 triumph over Guinea and a 2-0 victory against Niger—the total reward amounted to 2.4 billion shillings.
The confirmation came during a dinner hosted by the President and First Lady Janet Museveni at the State House in Entebbe, held to honor the team’s commendable efforts.
“This evening, Maama and I hosted the Uganda Cranes for dinner at Entebbe after their commendable performance in the tournament,” President Museveni stated. “As promised, we have fulfilled our pledge to them, as motivation is an essential part of building capacity.”
This direct payment from the President means each player and official received approximately 30 million shillings per win. This reward is in addition to the $11,000 that the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) had already disbursed to each team member. Prior to the State House dinner, the team was also hosted at the Parliament of Uganda.
During the event, the President also offered a light hearted but insightful tactical analysis. He engaged the technical team and goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa in a discussion about the third goal conceded against South Africa.
Drawing from military strategy, President Museveni explained, “As I joined Maama to watch the Cranes playing against Algeria, I reflected on a principle I often teach in the military every Force has an Area of Responsibility . When everyone goes on the offensive and leaves the defense and goalkeeper exposed, the opponent can easily exploit that gap.”
He concluded his analysis on a positive note, praising the team’s overall valiant effort using a Swahili word: “Tafadhali, our team’s efforts cannot go unappreciated. The Cranes fought valiantly.”
With the CHAN tournament concluded, the Uganda Cranes will now shift their focus to qualifying for and preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda is slated to co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
