This year, Netball Uganda is set to return to the top six countries in the world rankings, thanks to its improved performance in recent tournaments.
The team has secured a spot at the 2027 Netball World Cup, with Australia hosting the event. This marks the fifth time for Uganda to participate in this prestigious tournament.
As of now, the top six countries are: Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa, and Uganda. According to World Netball rankings, Uganda has returned to its desired sixth position, which was previously occupied by Wales.
The National Council of Sports (NCS) allocated Shs 6bn to sports federations and associations, with Netball Uganda falling under category B. This amount was shared among 17 federations, including boxing, badminton, chess, swimming, handball, volleyball, woodball, squash rackets, and golf.
According to World Netball, countries in the top six positions have qualified for the tournament. In the past fiscal year, Uganda received Shs 300 million, which is significantly lower than what other federations received.
Federaions like Fufa (football) received over Shs 14bn, while Rugby Union and basketball received Shs 3bn each. Even motor sports and Paralympics received the same amount.
Netball Uganda's financial allocation is an issue that needs to be addressed. Recent performances show improvement, but the team deserves better rewards from NCS.
The She Cranes' recent performances have shown a positive trend. At the 2019 Netball World Cup, they finished sixth, and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, they completed the event in fifth position.
At the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town (South Africa), the She Cranes secured their best position ever in the tournament with a fifth-place finish. This has brought hope that NCS will reconsider its allocation to sports federations.
The 2023/2024 financial year saw a significant increase in the national budget for sports, with Shs 47.4bn allocated to the sector. However, Netball Uganda still received only Shs 300 million.
The National Council of Sports (NCS) needs to review its allocation process for sports federations and associations. Netball Uganda's share of Shs 6bn is laughably low compared to other federations.
The She Cranes' performances have shown improvement over the years. Their recent results suggest that NCS should consider increasing their allocation to sports federations.
