Uganda will not be participating in the upcoming U21 World Cup qualifiers due to a lack of funds. This decision was confirmed by Moses Mwase, the chairperson of the normalization committee on Netball in Uganda.
The qualifiers, initially scheduled for March 18th-23rd in Pretoria, South Africa, offered only three slots for next year’s U21 World Cup in Gibraltar. Despite the team’s strong performance in the lead-up to the qualifiers, the government cited insufficient funds as the reason for Uganda’s withdrawal.
“We were informed by the government that there were no funds. Although our team has performed admirably in previous competitions, we regret that we are unable to send them this time,” Mwase explained during a meeting with delegates of the Uganda Netball Federation.
This meeting, which convened over 100 delegates from across the country, marked the first interaction between the normalization committee and netball members since its establishment by the World Netball in November of the previous year.
Chairman Moses Mwase reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring the She Cranes’ participation in the Wales and Vitality series. Following these championships, the committee intends to focus on establishing an advisory committee to develop a competition calendar.
Mwase also addressed the delay in resuming the Uganda Netball League, stressing the urgency of promptly resolving issues to facilitate the league’s return.
“There is concern that many people derive their livelihoods from netball, and the longer we delay, the more challenging it becomes for them. Therefore, we are establishing an advisory committee to address various issues, including the league’s resumption,” he emphasized.
The Uganda Netball Federation’s license was revoked by the National Council of Sports on October 25th, 2023, following months of conflicts and accusations, particularly from ousted President Sarah Babirye Kityo.
Despite the suspension of most netball activities following the license revocation, Moses Mwase, the Chairperson of the normalization committee, reassured delegates that all matters would be resolved.
