The Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, has proposed bold ideas to energize the Uganda Cranes and strengthen football culture in the country.
At the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Uganda Cranes earned just one point from the group stage after managing a single draw, exiting the tournament without advancing to the knockout rounds.
In light of this, the Katikkiro highlighted several ways to inspire the national team and its supporters. First, he suggested renaming the team.
“The name CRANES is so docile, the national bird is so lazy. Why not name the National Team the SPEARS, which signifies courage; victory.” He said via a social media missive.
He also stressed the importance of giving the team a distinctive color rooted in Uganda’s football heritage rather than corporate sponsorship.
Additionally, he noted that the national team lacks an anthem for fans to sing during matches and said creating one could foster unity and pride.
On domestic football, the Katikkiro called for government parastatals and agencies, such as the UPDF, Police, KCCA, and URA, to stop running football clubs, arguing that community-based clubs like SC Villa, Vipers, Express, and Wakiso Giants should instead receive sponsorship. He emphasized that strong fan bases are essential for a competitive league capable of nurturing talent for the national team.
With the Uganda Cranes not set to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, attention is now shifting toward the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will jointly host with Kenya and Tanzania.
