Members of Parliament (MPs) have asked the government to okay the allocation of over Ugx 2 billion to the Uganda Rugby team as it prepares to host two consecutive international tournaments.

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the legislators spent a better part of their plenary session discussing possibilities through which sports can be promoted in Uganda.

This stemmed from a motion presented by the Omoro County MP, Andrew Ojok Oulanya, for a resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to the government for the successful bid to host the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Rugby Africa Cup.

In his motion, MP Ojok urged the government to provide around Ugx 2.5 billion to the Uganda Rugby Union for their preparations to host the Rugby Africa Cup, slated to run from July 18–29, 2024, for this year’s edition.

“By hosting the Rugby Africa Cup in 2025, Uganda will earn the right to host Rugby World Cup qualifiers for the first time in the country’s history, thereby improving Uganda’s chances of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup based on home advantage,” Ojok said.

MP Santa Ogwang, the Oyam District Woman Representative, urged the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to consider allocating the required funds to the Uganda Rugby team so as to host the tournaments successfully.

Alum said that hosting such international tournaments raises Uganda’s flag high and also exposes the country’s tourism sector.

MP Boniface Okot, the Northern Youths representative, said that rugby is increasingly becoming a game of interest to many young people, and it is an opportunity to provide meaningful employment to the young people.

Okot called on the government to invest reasonably in rugby as one of the areas where Uganda has a comparative advantage.

The Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, said that hosting a rugby international tournament comes with opportunities for this country, including a positive image of the country.

FUFA boss Moses Magogo said that hosting editions of the Rugby Africa Cup is an opportunity for Uganda to bolster tourism earnings due to the many foreign tourists who will come to the country. He implored the Ministry of Tourism to take an interest in the matter.