DANIEL LUTAAYA
The Uganda Rugby Union president and recently elected Rugby Africa Vice president Andrew Owor believes the state of things in his sport could be better with a little more support from government towards the Rugby Cranes.
Government has come under fire from a number of sports federations over it’s budget allocations to various Federations.
The first federation to come out and castigate this practice was boxing led by the ever vocal Moses Muhangi who shook the status quo and irked one or two at FUFA.
According to Muhangi, government approved a budget of Shs 17.4 billion for the support of sports federations, money meant to benefit all sports organs but the biggest chunk of this has been going to Football.
Owor has now also joined in on the funding chorus calling for more funding to allow the development of all sports in the country.
“I do not think anybody can ever say we’ve got enough, for us to compete at the highest level. There is also a very high level budget that comes with that. We will try what we can within the means that we have been provided but I think everybody can do much better,” he said.
Owor said the conversation he would like people to have is what more can we do for the country because it’s evident the talent is there so it is no longer a question of whether you are backing up the wrong tree.
“We have a very good product here, very encouraged and self motivated players and that deserves more from the public, government and sponsors,” Owor said.
Sevens coach Tolbert Onyango also agreed with his boss in the fund allocation.
“I am aware that we have gotten some funding from the government that has helped us go through training our sponsors have also put in their fare share,” Onyango said.
He also revealed that the money given to them is not enough to run all the projects they would have loved to do especially with the trainings.
“Rugby is a contact sport and therefore needs to have a lot of investment in-order for us to succeed on the pitch. Government needs to balance the boat when allocating these funds to associations.”
Last year, FUFA, and the government entered into a partnership where the later promised to support the federation’s activities with financial support up to a tune of Shs10 billion per year.
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