KAMPALA – Uganda’s netball team – She Cranes are demanding payment of Ugx20m (£4,400/$5,400/€5,100), months after competing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
We understand that athletes from other sports were awarded with the money in person during a visit to the State House in Entebbe.
However, the She Cranes were unable to send a representative and as a result received nothing.
Sports Minister Peter Ogwang asked players to provide their bank account details but a payment is yet to be made.
“If we receive that Ugx20 million, it will help us in so many ways,” goal attacker Rachael Nanyonga said in an interview.
“We are the ones that built the She Cranes team and made it stable, we deserve to be appreciated not in words but cash,” she added.
Each players reportedly received Ugx2m (£440/$540/€515) after the tournament and received Ugx30,000 (£7/$8/€7.50) for each day of the tournament in Britain.
The Ugx30,000 training allowance has remained the same for years but Uganda Netball Federation -UNF President Sarah Babirye Kityo, allegedly promised to raise the figure to Ugx50,000 (£11/$13.50/€12).
“We have volunteered to play without pay for the love of our country but it is not fair as other people in power benefit from our sweat,” Loughborough Lightning player Mary Nuba wrote on Twitter.
“We are not a charity case, we raise the Ugandan flag high like no other.”
Recently, the UNF was handed a fine of $5,000 (£4,000/€4,700) after pulling out six days prior to the scheduled start of the Africa Netball Championships, held in August this year in South Africa, after originally saying they would participate.
The team will not be allowed to take part in the World Cup next year before they pay the fine which will also affect player payments.
Next year’s World Cup is also set to take place in South Africa, with competition scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 6.
Uganda finished fifth in the netball tournament at Birmingham 2022 after beating South Africa 54-48 in their final match.
