By Hanning Mbabazi
Kampala: The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga grieved out at Government for sidelining the National Netball Team- The She Cranes, wondering why the same financial support given to the national football team- Uganda Cranes hasn’t been extended to the netball team at the Netball World Cup tournament that is underway in London.
Kadaga made the remarks Tuesday 9 July while congratulating Uganda Cranes team for their good performance at Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, having reached last sixteen stage, up from the group stages the team had attained in the past tournament.
“For me I feel proud that in two years, they are able to go to the last sixteen so let us pray for them to do better,” Kadaga said.
It is then that she tasked the Government to explain why they have continuously discriminated against She Cranes.
“I want to ask Government, the She Cranes; they are in the world cup, nobody is giving them money, because they are women, they have left without money, they are in London. Money for cranes is there, money for She Cranes isn’t there; I want you to explain whether you have sent money. Why don’t you plan for them? This is discrimination,” Kadaga said.
State Minister for Sports, Charles Bakabulindi asked for two weeks to come with a statement to explain why She Cranes has been sidelined.
“The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports is handling the matter of payment and as we leave today, the money will be there. Before the team left, they were advanced Shs5M each. I will come with details on how they are living in two weeks,” he said.
However, Kadaga rejected the two weeks’ time request ordering Bakabulindi to present a statement next week.
