Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes, endured a disappointing campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, failing to advance beyond the group stage. The team’s journey started on a harsh note, with a 3-0 defeat to Tunisia in the opening match.
In the second game, Uganda managed to draw 1-1 with East African neighbors Tanzania after coming from behind, missing a crucial chance to qualify when Allan Okello of Vipers SC saw his penalty saved in the 90th minute. The campaign concluded with a heavy 3-0 loss to Nigeria, forcing the Cranes to exit the tournament early.
The poor performance has prompted reflection from leaders in Uganda, including Katikkiro and Prime Minister of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, who believes that the national team’s struggles go beyond tactics or player quality they stem from a lack of inspiration and identity. In a recent statement, Mayiga outlined four key areas that could energize the team and elevate Uganda’s football prospects.
Rebranding the National Team:
Mayiga suggests that the Cranes’ name and symbols may inadvertently limit the team’s spirit. “The name ‘Cranes’ is docile, and even our national bird seems too passive to inspire courage on the pitch,” he said. Instead, he proposes renaming the team the Spears, a symbol of courage, strength, and the pursuit of victory a rallying emblem that could ignite both players and fans.
Establishing a Distinct National Color:
Unlike other countries, Uganda’s football teams often adopt colors linked to sponsors rather than their national identity. Mayiga emphasizes that the Cranes need a unique, tradition-based color that reflects the origins and heritage of Ugandan football. Such an identity could enhance team pride, unity, and fan recognition.
Creating a Team Anthem:
An anthem gives supporters a unifying chant that echoes through stadiums and generates energy for the players. Mayiga notes that the Cranes currently lack such a unifying song, leaving a gap in fan engagement. A powerful anthem could inspire both the team on the field and fans in the stands, creating a more electric atmosphere during matches.
Reforming Uganda’s Football Structure:
Mayiga is also critical of government parastatals and agencies that maintain football clubs, such as UPDF, Police, and URA. “These clubs lack true fan bases, and their dominance in the Uganda Premier League limits the league’s competitiveness,” he observes. A weak domestic league cannot produce a strong national team. He proposes that these institutions should instead sponsor established community-based clubs, including SC Villa, Vipers, Express, and Wakiso Giants, which already enjoy widespread fan support.
Strengthening these clubs could boost the league’s quality and provide a stronger pool of players for the national team.
Uganda didn’t get out of the group stage at AFCON for a number of reasons, but lack of INSPIRATION is one of them. Let’s debate 4 factors that could inspire the National Team:
1. The name CRANES is so docile, the national bird is so lazy. Why not name the National Team the… pic.twitter.com/S8vQmL0gGB
— Charles Peter Mayiga (@cpmayiga) January 9, 2026
Katikkiro Mayiga believes that Uganda’s AFCON shortcomings are not merely technical but symbolic. By rethinking the team’s identity, cultivating national pride through colors and an anthem, and restructuring domestic football, Uganda can lay the foundation for a more competitive and inspiring national team. As he notes, inspiration is as crucial as skill on the road to Africa Cup glory.
