Magogo announces major improvements in Uganda Cranes Welfare
David GOMBE
FUFA President Moses Magogo has announced a number of improvements in the welfare and logistical support for the senior national team, the Uganda Cranes, following engagements with Government.
Under the new arrangements, Uganda Cranes players based outside the country travelling for more than four hours will travel business class.
A new team bus will also be provided for the Uganda Cranes, while chartered flights will be used for back-to-back fixtures where applicable.
Magogo also announced an agreement for the national team to stay in five-star hotels while camping in Uganda or abroad whenever possible, as part of efforts to improve the team’s standards.
“We have also agreed that whenever the national team is camping in Uganda or outside, it has to stay in a five star hotel,” Magogo said.
The Federation has also secured improved bonuses and allowances for the senior national team.
“We have improved on our bonuses and allowances to the senior team and as soon as they arrive from Tunisia, we will have a meeting with the players and communicate to them,” he revealed.
The FUFA President confirmed that players who participated in Uganda’s qualification campaign for AFCON 2025 will receive a pro-rata qualification bonus of USD 10,000 each, following discussions with Government.
“You are aware that while we were in Morocco for 2025 AFCON, the senior national players protested and challenged that having made the team qualify for AFCON 2025 they were not paid the qualification bonus. We have engaged with the government and I can confirm that the government has accepted to pay every player who participated in qualifying the team to AFCON 2025 is paid $10000,” Magogo confirmed.
Update on Diaspora Players
The FUFA President also provided an update on the Federation’s ongoing efforts to identify Ugandan players born or based abroad who are eligible to represent Uganda.
He said FUFA officials, Government officials and the Uganda Cranes head coach have travelled to different countries to meet players, parents and agents as part of the process.
The players being identified include those who qualify through Ugandan descent or through the applicable eligibility regulations based on their family or place of birth.
The process, he explained, is lengthy, with different players expected to become available during the September, October, November and March international windows and beyond.
“Work has been done and we’ve been doing this work for over a year. Work has been done and sooner than later we’ll start seeing some of these players,” Magogo said.
He appealed to the media and Ugandans to welcome the players as they join the national team.
“Let us welcome them. Some of them have never been to Uganda. Some have been coming to Uganda without necessarily being part of football.”
The President noted that some of the players may also need time to adapt to Uganda and its culture, given that they have grown up outside the country.
Uganda Cranes, is currently in camp in Tunis ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tunisia and will then return home to face Libya in Hoima on 29th September 2026 at 7pm for the first ever AFCON qualifier to be played outside Kampala.
