The 10th Parliament has paid tribute to the National Football team the Uganda Cranes team, expressing appreciation for making it to the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon.
It has been nearly 38 years since Uganda qualified for the continental competition after defeating Comoros on September 4 despite trying hard in many campaigns.
In a motion tabled by the Ajuri law maker, Hanson Denis Obua, the legislators appreciated the cranes for bringing such a great honour and prestige to the nation of Uganda.
The cranes delegation to Parliament was headed by the FUFA president Magogo and the team coach Milutin Sredojevic ‘Micho’.
Hon. Hanson Denis Obua, the mover of the motion displays a Cranes picture to parliamentarians on Tuesday.
In his submission, the Ajuri county legislator appealed to members to influence increase in budgetary allocation to the sports sector as the only way of lifting up sports to greater heights in the country.
“Parliament joins other country men in paying tribute to Uganda Cranes for qualifying in Gabon but we like to use this opportunity to call on government to increase the annual budget to facilitate the development and sustainability of sports in Uganda,” Obua said.
Obua further called upon government to table new law that will regulate sports activities in the country.
“The current National Council of Sports Act which was enacted in 1964 is outdated and government needs to table a new legal framework within a period of six months.”
“If within 6 months the Ministry can’t bring the new legal framework, we shall be left with no option but to bring the bill ourselves.”
The motion was then seconded by Mbale Woman representative, Connie Nakayisiki and Makindye West MP, Allan Sewanyana who further expressed worry that the team might fail to perform to its best unless well-funded.
To this effect, Sewanyana called upon members to show their sincere appreciation to the Cranes team by each contributing a sum of Sh500, 000 as a token of appreciation and support in Gabon.
However the motion was not debated after being deffered to Thursday by a decision by members requesting a thorough response from the State Minister of Sports Charles Bakabulinde to the motion and to the poor performance of Uganda’s delegation to Olympics recently.