Legislators have asked
government to expedite fulfillment of presidential pledges particularly those
made to sports personalities for their good performance at international meets.
The MPs said that this would help improve their zeal and
performance.
The Shadow Minister of Sports, Hon. Allan Ssewanyana, who
raised the issue said that President Museveni pledged to give a US$1 million
token of appreciation to the Uganda Cranes for their impressive performance in
the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt.
Ssewanyana raised the issue during the plenary sitting
chaired by Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, on Tuesday, 11 February 2020.
He said that players on the national football team had demanded
that their promised token be availed before they participate in 2020
engagements including the World Cup 2022 qualifiers and the April African
Nations Championships (CHAN).
“We would like to know where this money is and we request the
President’s Office to let us know when this pledge will be fulfilled for the
benefit of our sportsmen and women,” said Ssewanyana.
MPs also presented concerns over the manner in which some of
the presidential pledges were processed for athletes who had made the country proud
saying that some had not been provided to completion.
“Dorcus Inzikuru who won gold for this country got a pledge
of a house and vehicle. The house was delivered but the car has not been
provided since 2005 when the presidential pledge was made,” said Hon. Benard
Atiku (Indep., Ayivu County).
Inzikuru won gold in the inaugural women’s World 3000-meters
steeplechase, which was Uganda’s first international athletics gold medal in
over 20 years. On her return, government promised her a car, house and free
education for bringing glory to Uganda.
State Minister for Finance, Hon. David Bahati told the House
that the presidential pledge to the Uganda Cranes was being processed and would
be followed up,
“We are looking at all the pledges that have been made in the
Ministry of Sports so that we can increase the budget for sports in the coming
months as we process the budget,” Bahati said.
In October 2018, President Yoweri Museveni promised to reward
the Uganda Cranes with US$1 million (approximately Shs3.8 billion) if the team
qualified for the Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
