Netball Uganda President Jocelyne Uchanda has called on the government to provide greater financial support to the national netball team, including placing the players on a monthly payroll ahead of the 2027 World Netball Championship in Sydney, Australia.
Uchanda made the appeal in an exclusive interview with a Daily Sports Africa correspondent following Uganda’s impressive performance at the recently concluded championship in Nairobi, Kenya.
She believes formally recognising the players and providing them with a regular monthly income would give them the financial stability needed to dedicate more time to their sport and prepare adequately for major international competitions.
“As we look ahead to Sydney in 2027, I would implore our government to recognise these players and, if possible, put them on a payroll so that they can earn a monthly fee as national team players,” Uchanda said.
The Netball Uganda president pointed to the level of support enjoyed by players in some of Uganda’s strongest international rivals, particularly South Africa, where government-backed programmes have helped players commit more time to the sport.
“All these big teams we play with, like South Africa, they are on government payroll. That’s why their life is netball, and they commit all their time to playing netball,” she explained.
Uchanda believes Uganda needs to create a similar environment if the She Cranes are to consistently compete with the continent’s leading netball nations.
“So I implore our government to recognise these players and also put them on a monthly payroll,” she added.
According to Uchanda, such a move would go beyond rewarding the players for their achievements. It would allow them to focus more fully on training, recovery and international competition without the financial pressures that can affect their preparation.
The She Cranes have continued to establish themselves among Africa’s leading netball sides, but the competition at the top is becoming increasingly intense.
With Sydney 2027 now on the horizon, Uchanda believes sustained investment in the players will be crucial if Uganda is to close the gap with the best teams in the world.
A regular income for national team players, she argues, would provide the stability needed to improve preparation, build consistency and give the She Cranes a stronger platform to compete on the international stage.
For Netball Uganda, the call is therefore not simply about rewarding the players for what they have already achieved, but creating a more sustainable system capable of supporting Uganda’s ambitions in the years ahead.
