President Yoweri Museveni hosted the Uganda Cranes for a celebratory dinner in Entebbe, recognizing their strong performance at the recently concluded Pamoja tournament, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Before the competition, the President had promised Shs1.2 billion for each win. The Cranes went on to defeat Guinea and Niger, topping Group C—which also included Algeria—and advancing to the quarterfinals of the home-based players’ tournament for the first time in seven attempts.
Speaker Anita Among later confirmed in Parliament that Museveni honored his pledge, releasing Shs2.4 billion to the team. Uganda’s run ended in the quarterfinals against defending champions Senegal, while Morocco claimed the title after edging Madagascar 1-0.
Uganda is also gearing up to co-host the 2027 African Nations Cup with Kenya and Tanzania.
During the dinner, Museveni shared his perspective on the team’s performance, drawing parallels between football and military tactics in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF.
“Every Force has an Area of Responsibility (AOR),” he noted, stressing the importance of maintaining defensive structure. “If everyone pushes forward and leaves the defense exposed, the opponent will exploit the gap.”
While offering tactical insights, Museveni praised the team’s fighting spirit: “As we say in Swahili, ‘Tafadhali,’ our team’s efforts deserve recognition. The Cranes fought with courage.”
The dinner underscored Museveni’s commitment to sports development. Through financial rewards and motivational guidance, he reaffirmed his support for Ugandan football, which looks set for a bright future with the hosting of AFCON 2027 on the horizon.
