This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
Uganda's national football team made a surprising run to the last 16 in Egypt last July, but their campaign was marred by a payment row with players refusing to train at one point.
The team, known as the Cranes, were invited to a gathering with President Museveni at State House in Entebbe, where he made the pledge to the players.
However, the players have yet to receive the promised funds, and captain Denis Onyango has spoken out about the situation in a phone interview with Reuters.
‘We were invited to the State House and he promised us something,’ Onyango said. ‘We’ve tried all means of getting to him but we failed.’
Onyango, who was voted the best African-based player of 2016, said the team is seeking clarity on the pledge, which would be shared among the players to help them deal with the financial struggles caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Uganda has recorded 805 Covid-19 cases and no deaths, and while the country has begun easing its lockdown, football has yet to resume.
President Museveni’s press secretary, Don Wanyama, said the players’ message has reached the president, and a reminder has been sent to respond to it.
