When Cranes plays political tool

Kampala. The build up to Uganda Cranes’ Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier with Cape Verde due tomorrow at Mandela Stadium – Namboole, has been marred by silent political undertones.
The latest episode saw a banner of ruling party National Resistence Movement (NRM) members rallying fans to join them at Namboole – all that in the midst of a joint press conference between Fufa and Uganda Police Force on Wednesday, where the latter warned, as usual, that no political attire will be allowed at the stadium.
Last year, at the height of the age limit debate, Police actually confiscated anything red that was not a replica of the Cranes jersey during the 2018 World Cup (WC) qualifiers with Ghana and Egypt.
In a recent article on why Fufa struggle to fill Namboole during Cranes’ games, Masaza Cup finals promoter Abbey Musinguzi, argued that the politics of the day have turned away fans that simply love red or would want to express their political freedoms at such games.
Indeed Fufa’s head of marketing and communications Rogers Byamukama pondered why, “communication to turn away fans for political reasons comes in quite early towards Cranes games while for Masaza it was done at the gate without prior warnings.”
Over a month ago, musician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, who is also an opposition Member of Parliament representing Kyadondo East, had been stopped by the stadium management from holding a concert at Namboole.
While Bobi Wine believes the decision had everything to do with his political affiliations, Namboole argued that Fufa, the local football governing body, had urged the management to call off the rescheduled concert.
In our opinion any public event within the international football match period will put the stadium into an unacceptable standard to the detriment of Caf docking off points from the Uganda Cranes for the upcoming match...
As you are already aware Caf (Confederation of African Football) already warned Uganda on the stadium standard after a similar event was organised before the Uganda Cranes played in October 2017 last year,” read bits of a letter written to Namboole by Fufa chief executive officer Edgar Watson.
In the past there have been direct political machinations around the national team. These range from announcements of which politician is in attendance at Namboole to camp visits.
Perhaps the commonest episode came in 2011 culminating into the expulsion of former Cranes forward David Obua 24 hours to the country’s Afcon 2012 qualifiers decider with Kenya and forthwith forced into retirement.
Sources close to the camp then claimed Obua, who had long tested the patience of then coach Bobby Williamson and Fufa president Lawrence Mulindwa, stretched it beyond limit when he walked out on the team as the rest of his colleagues prepared to meet President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the qualifier.
Prior to launching his presidential bid, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi became a regular guest at Cranes matches but he was always booed. He, however, kept turning out.
After his NRM party endorsed Museveni as sole candidate for flag bearer, Mbabazi’s supporters intensified their activities in Namboole.
In September 2014, during Uganda’s 2-0 win over Guinea in the 2015 Afcon qualifiers, Mbabazi’s presence was first felt through posters in sections of the stadium. When Mbabazi finally arrived, he was greeted to cheers.
A month later, in what many say was NRM’s response to Mbabazi’s new found love at Namboole, newly appointed Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda came to deliver the President’s speech ahead of another Afcon qualifier with Togo.
Rugunda, clearly new to proceedings, instead incensed fans and Togolese visitors when he chose the moment between team inspection and kickoff of this televised match to read the speech.
He was subsequently booed by the crowd throughout his address as a visibly shaken Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, remonstrated behind the Prime Minister’s security.
Fufa’s communications manager Ahmed Marsha Hussein, however, says the federation is now handling things better.
“Anyone can easily associate with sports and Cranes are the number one brand in the country. We try to sensitise everyone on how the national team is handled, what times they can get to camp or reach out to players,” Hussein shares.
Recently, whenever the President has to meet the Cranes, it is usually at State House or in his country home at Rwakitura. In January 2016, however, the President and Cranes met at Soroti State Lodge as the former was on his campaign trail ahead of the general elections. The Cranes were involved in accident on their return to Kampala inviting lots of sharp criticism about the trip.
“We keep working hand in hand with the authorities and politicians to get to know their interests. The game has external stakeholders like government and you cannot avoid them. Some of the politicians have the connections to link us to sponsors who could help the team,” Hussein added.
Indeed, on his part, the President has been a big benefactor of the Cranes. His sponsorship ranges from money to chartered planes to Morocco (2014) and recently to Maseru for a reverse fixture against Lesotho among others.