Sports Minister Ogwang to investigate She Cranes coach Mugerwa’s salary scandal

The Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, has promised to investigate why the She Cranes' head coach Fred Mugerwa has never been paid despite having worked for two years.

Mugerwa made the unnerving revelations during the team’s reception at Serena Hotel on Monday.

Minister Ogwang had graced the function alongside other government dignitaries.

The coach mourned the fact that he was being subjected to endless criticisms, abuses and false accusations from some stakeholders, yet he was a volunteer.

He revealed that the only money he has ever received from the Uganda Netball Federation was shs. 500,000 after winning the Pent Series in Namibia in 2021.

Shocked

Ogwang took to his Twitter page to calm the growing outrage from the team’s fans, claiming he was not aware of the situation.

“It is unfortunate to hear that the Netball coach has not been receiving his monthly salary for a while,” the outspoken minister said while promising, "This is a matter that is coming to my attention for the first time, and I am going to investigate it.”

Ogwang clarified that the netball federation runs the affairs of the game on behalf of the government and that they’re responsible for the salaries and remunerations of the coaching staff.

He also revealed that the salaries are budgeted for but promised to dig into the matter.

“It is, therefore, the Federation that hires and signs the contract with the coach and is also obliged to pay his salary because this is budgeted for. But I am going to find out why he has not been paid and have it resolved urgently,” he added.

Uganda defeated South Africa 49-47 in the fifth-place playoff to finish in their best-ever position.

The achievement also meant that they officially become the best team on the African continent.