Museveni Orders Sports Champions to Be Absorbed in Armed Forces; Get Cars and Houses

President Yoweri Museveni has expressed government commitment to pay more attention to the sports sector, which for decades has been left behind.

The President made the commitment yesterday while meeting a group of Ugandan sportsmen and women who have excelled in various sports disciplines.

About 400 sportspeople, officials and teachers were hosted by the president, and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports, to a luncheon and later dinner at State House Entebbe.

Museveni posing with sportsmen from the UPDF

According to a statement released by State House, Museveni during the meeting ordered for sportsmen and women who excel at international level to be absorbed into the armed forces namely, the Police, UPDF or Uganda Prisons, where they will be entitled to a salary.

“I have directed that excelling sportspeople be absorbed in the armed forces so that they get a salary, an address and technical support through coaching,” he said.

On top of that the president said each of such sportspeople, while be entitled to a standard salary depending on their level of success.

“My earlier pledge of rewarding excelling athletes is still on,” he said.

“If an athlete wins a gold medal at either continental or global championship, they are entitled to Shs5 million monthly salary, silver is Shs3 million and bronze Shs1 million,” he said.

Additionally, the president announced, government will also build a house and buy a car for athletes who win gold at international championships like the Commonwealth or the Olympics.

During the meeting, President Museveni said government had not intentionally abandoned Sports, but that it has been pressed with other critical needs such as infrastructure.

Going forward, Museveni pledged to have some of the old government promised in this sector fulfilled.

“We are going to start building Akii Bua Stadium and another in Kabarole. In the long run, all the traditional 18 sub-regions of Uganda will get a stadium each. Nakivubo Stadium is also being rehabilitated by an enterprising young Ugandan businessman,” he said.

“I will personally follow up on the issue of delays to complete Teryet High Altitude Training Centre. I do not buy the explanation that the rains are responsible for these delays and yet money is available. I think some unscrupulous people are intentionally delaying this project.”

Uganda was ranked 9th best in the World Athletics Championship, 3rd in Africa Athletics, 6th in World Netball, qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo and emerged winner in the East Africa Schools Championships in Arusha and the Interforces Games in Nairobi.