State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang has ordered an investigation after the She Cranes traveled by bus to Kenya for the 2026 Africa Netball Cup despite the federation receiving full facilitation.
Ogwang posted on X on Saturday night hours after Uganda beat South Africa 56-53 in the final to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
"This is strange. I have just talked to the General Secretary of NCS, and he confirmed that the Netball Federation was fully facilitated to participate in this tournament in Kenya," Ogwang wrote.
The minister called the road transport decision shocking and unfortunate and promised to host the team upon their return on September 27 to get answers.
Netball Uganda initially claimed they received Shs250 million for the quarter starting July but Shs142 million was deducted to clear a debt to a money lender who had funded air tickets for a previous Africa Netball Cup.
The federation has not yet responded publicly to the minister's remarks or specified whether the grant covered air travel.
The argument doing the rounds in Kampala is whether the transport decision was a deliberate cost-cutting move by federation officials or a forced choice after the debt deduction left insufficient funds for flights.
Key facts from the saga
- She Cranes left Uganda by bus on September 14 and returned September 27
- Uganda beat South Africa 56-53 to win the 2026 Africa Netball Cup
- Victory secured qualification for 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney
- NCS confirmed full facilitation was provided to Netball Uganda
- Shs250 million quarterly grant received; Shs142 million deducted for prior debt
- Minister Ogwang vows personal investigation and team meeting
Source: Kawowo Sports
