President Museveni hosted the Uganda Cranes, the national football team, to a celebratory dinner in Entebbe following their commendable showing in the recently concluded Pamoja tournament, jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
It should be remembered that before the tournament, President Museveni had pledged Shs1.2 billion for every win.
The celebratory dinner comes after the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among confirmed that the Uganda Cranes received Shs2.4 billion pledged by President Museveni for their performance in the recently concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Uganda Cranes went on to win two games—beating Guinea and Niger—to top Group C, which also featured Algeria, and qualify for the quarterfinals of the home-grown players tournament for the first time in seven attempts. Uganda beat Niger and Guinea before falling to Senegal 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
During the dinner, Museveni shared his analysis of the team’s play, drawing parallels between football tactics and military strategy as Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).
“Every Force has an Area of Responsibility (AOR),” he said, emphasizing the importance of defensive positioning. “When everyone goes on the offensive and leaves the defense and goalkeeper exposed, the opponent can easily exploit that gap.”
Despite his tactical critique, the President commended the team’s determination.
“However, as we say in Swahili, ‘Tafadhali,’ our team’s efforts cannot go unappreciated. The Cranes fought valiantly,” he said.
The dinner highlights Museveni’s engagement with sports development in Uganda. By rewarding the team financially and offering guidance, he demonstrates support for the growth of football in the country.
