President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to sell some of his cows to buy a bus for the Lango Province Football Team, responding to a request from Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, during the foundation-laying ceremony for the Akii Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira, a landmark sports infrastructure project in Uganda.
The Akii Bua Stadium project, named after Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist John Akii-Bua, is a $129 million investment aimed at boosting sports in the country.
The stadium will be a world-class multi-sports complex, featuring a 20,000-seat main arena, an athletics track, a full-sized football pitch, a 2,000-seat indoor stadium, a semi-Olympic swimming pool, outdoor courts for multiple sports, and a 60-bed hostel.
The facility is a key part of Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
During the ceremony, Dr. Aceng took the opportunity to highlight Lango Province’s impressive performances in the FUFA Drum tournament, a national competition where regional teams face off.
“We have a very strong Lango Province team that competes in FUFA Drum tournaments,” she said. “Lango has performed well in past editions, showcasing how talented our boys are. One of our talented players is Denis Omedi, who plays in the FUFA Drum. We also have several playing in top clubs in the Uganda Premier League.”
Dr. Aceng then made a direct appeal to President Museveni, requesting support for the team in the form of a bus to ease transport challenges.
In response, Museveni reassured the people of Lango that he would personally intervene.
“My daughter Dr. Aceng talked of the bus for the sports people. For that one, I will sell my cows, and I will give you the bus,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The President’s pledge was met with widespread appreciation from local leaders and sports enthusiasts, who view it as a major boost for Lango’s football development.
The FUFA Drum tournament has been a crucial platform for nurturing talent, with Lango producing top players such as Denis Omedi, Allan Okello and others now competing in the Uganda Premier League and beyond.
