KAMPALA, UGANDA | The Uganda Cranes were celebrated in a state dinner at State House Entebbe on Tuesday evening, hosted by President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni, in recognition of the team’s unprecedented run to the CHAN 2024 quarterfinals the best finish in Uganda’s football history.
Earlier in the day, Parliament paid tribute to the Cranes for their spirited performance during the continental tournament. Hon. Peter Ogwang, State Minister for Sports, confirmed that the President’s cash pledge of UGX 2.4 billion to the players had been fully disbursed.
“The Uganda Cranes have shown resilience, teamwork, and determination in a highly competitive tournament,” Hon. Ogwang told Parliament. “They have brought honour and recognition to our nation and set an example for young athletes across the country.”
Uganda, drawn into a tough Group C alongside Algeria, South Africa, and Niger, defied expectations to reach the quarterfinals for the first time after seven failed attempts in previous editions. The performance boosted national pride and spotlighted the potential of Ugandan football on the continental stage.
The success of the tournament extended beyond the pitch. Hon. Ogwang noted that renovations to Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) met CAF’s international standards, while Entebbe International Airport recorded its highest passenger traffic in July 2024 a boost attributed in part to CHAN-related tourism.
At the state dinner, First Lady Janet Museveni praised the team’s achievement and framed the CHAN tournament as a strategic test run for AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Tanzania and Kenya.
“As a nation, we made history,” she said. “Uganda hosted a continental football tournament for the first time, and our Cranes advanced to the quarterfinals. CHAN 2024 was our rehearsal for AFCON 2027, and we must now build on the lessons learned.”
She emphasized the long-term value of investing in sports infrastructure, noting that maintenance is more cost-effective than rebuilding. “Sports is not only about competition; it’s a driver of tourism, unity, and economic growth,” she said.
President Museveni echoed her sentiments, congratulating the players and confirming that each player had received UGX 30 million, as promised.
“I congratulate our footballers for the improvement you have shown. You have made Uganda proud,” said the President. “Government will continue to construct and upgrade sports facilities, but the foundation must be laid through structured planning, good health, and nutrition.”
He added that no school should be licensed without a sports field and that institutions like the Police and Army will play a key role in nurturing sports talent through employment and training opportunities.
In Parliament, FUFA President Hon. Moses Magogo praised CHAN 2024 as “the most organized competition in CAF history,” while urging government to consider direct funding for football clubs, many of which lack basic resources for training, nutrition, and player welfare.
The debate also raised issues about athlete accommodations and taxation. MPs urged that the UGX 2.4 billion bonus be exempt from taxes, a position confirmed by Speaker Anita Among. Minister Ogwang clarified that the hotel used by the Cranes during CHAN was CAF-approved and met all international standards.
Uganda’s CHAN 2024 journey has not only elevated the national team’s profile but also ignited broader discussions on infrastructure, player welfare, and sports policy. The momentum and lessons from the tournament are now expected to inform Uganda’s preparations for AFCON 2027 and long-term sports development.