Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last week indicated that he would support Uganda’s bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations, the continental football championship. Motsepe was visiting Uganda on invitation of the local football governing body, the Federation of Uganda Football Association. While in Uganda, the CAF president met Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, with whom they discussed the likelihood of hosting the presitigioous tournament. Motsepe expressed his commitment towards helping Ugandan football scale to greater heights. Motsepe arrived in the country on Thursday evening and met the FUFA Executive Committee and the media before concluding his visit on Friday in engagements with the President Museveni and the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, in the company of Confederation of East and Central Football Association (CECAFA) President, Wallace Karia. The CAF President put emphasis on helping in the development of the game in Uganda bearing in mind, FUFA’s vision of making Uganda the number one footballing nation in Africa on and off the pitch.’ He said; “I am here to make a humble contribution to football development in this country and also have discussions with some of our people in the private sector to emphasize their role towards the game.”
President Museveni promised to increase the budget to aid the Afcon host deal. He promised and expressed his readiness and willingness more than ever before, to Champion Development of Football in Uganda making the Country ready to host the Afcon. Museveni stated that his government is committed towards supporting football and sports. “I thank Mr. Motsepe for his dedication to African football. To FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, we have not really supported sports as much as we would have wanted, except for providing peace. We are going to improve, and it will be very serious support.”
While meeting the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Motsepe hinted about the idea of Uganda to co-host the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations with Tanzania, indicating it would be a good move for the two countries. “I was told that Uganda and Tanzania are keen to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in these two beautiful countries. As the President of CAF, I have to support all the 54 Member Associations equally and must say that I would personally not only just welcome but encourage a joint hosting bid between these two countries because it will make a huge contribution to football development in Uganda and Tanzania.” Motsepe noted that; “This region (CECAFA) has not hosted Africa Cup of Nations before and it would be a good move to both Uganda and Tanzania not only in promoting football development but also other areas like tourism, investment and trade,” Motsepe added.
Mr Karia who also doubles as the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President, indicated it will be a good move to have AFCON hosted in the region. “I am delighted to be here as CAF President makes his visit to one of the countries in this region. We share very many things in common and I can confirm both Uganda and Tanzania have the will to host AFCON 2027. I will take the message back home to make sure this dream becomes a reality,” Karia stated.
Ugandan star Joshua Cheptegei sensationally defended his 10,000m world title on Sunday at the ongoing World Athletics Championships while his friend and villagemate Jacob Kiplimo won Uganda bronze in the same race in Eugene, Oregon.
The 26-year old is the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 metres and silver medalist for the 10,000 metres; World Champion in the 10,000 metres; and World Cross Country champion. Cheptegei currently holds world records in both the 5000 metres and the 10,000 metres, and holds world best in the 15 kilometres road race. He is also the current Ugandan record holder in both the 5 km and 10 km.
Cheptegei is the 10th man in history to hold the 5,000 m and 10,000 m world records concurrently, both set in 2020. In 2017, he became the silver medalist in the 10,000m event at the World Championship in London. In 2018, he set a world record for the 15 km road race and became the cross country world champion in 2019. A year later, at a road race in Monaco, he set a previous world road 5 km record of 12:51, breaking through the event’s 13-minute barrier, and taking 9 seconds from the previous best of 13:00, set by Kenya’s Sammy Kipketer in 2000. In August 2020, at the Monaco Diamond League meet, he set a new 5000 metres world record of 12:35.36, breaking Kenenisa Bekele’s 16-year-old world record of 12:37.35 set in Hengelo.On 7 October 2020, in Valencia, he set a world record time of 26:11.00 in the 10,000 metres, which again improved on Kenenisa Bekele’s 15-year-old best by more than 6 seconds.
All roads led to the South Sudan capital in Juba for the Uganda-South Sudan first-ever business forum which officially commenced Monday as Kampala and Juba look into accelerating trade cooperation.
A dinner was held Monday evening at the Palm Africa Hotel in Juba to welcome the Ugandan delegation.
Uganda’s Ambassador to South. Sudan Gen. Ronnie Balya hosted the event which was attended by the South Sudan Trade Minister Kuol Mawien, diplomats and the private sector.
The business, which ends Wednesday is being held at Beijing Hotel, Juba.
