The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, criticized government for allegedly housing the Uganda Cranes in substandard facilities during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
Speaking during a parliamentary tribute to the national team, Ssenyonyi raised concerns about the conditions at the hotel in Kisaasi, a suburb of Kampala.
“The standards… sports, like all other sports disciplines, soccer, there are standards. We were dumbfounded when we saw on the news the hotel facility at which the Uganda Cranes were staying somewhere in Kisasi, the road to the hotel not very accessible. I am told the bus would stop somewhere and then they alight to access the hotel,” Ssenyonyi said.
“Our opponents were staying at good five-star hotels. I think we can afford for our stars to stay at good facilities. If we can afford to give them shs1.2 billion per win, then we can afford to put them in a good place where they are safe. But if they have to jump out of the bus to access, you know, the place where they are staying, that speaks of insecurity, it speaks of discomfort. Can we address this very critical concern, Hon Minister?”
Speaker Anita Among responded to the remarks, defending the government’s arrangements.
“And the ones who were staying at five-star hotels, did they reach where we reached?” she said, highlighting the Cranes’ performance in the tournament.
The exchange came as Parliament praised the Uganda Cranes for their performance in CHAN 2024, where the team reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Senegal.
