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Uganda Lacrosse Association has turned to the mercy of well-wishers to fund its trip to the World Championships.
The 2023 World Men’s Lacrosse Championships are slated for June-July in San Diego, USA.
Brian Kwesiga, the Uganda Lacrosse Association General Manager, revealed to Pulse Sports that they are looking at raising Shs370m for the trip.
The funds will meet the travel, accommodation, and meal costs for a 26-man squad.
“We are looking at raising $100,000 (about 375m)”, Kwesiga, who is based in the United States, revealed to this reporter.
“Lacrosse is a new sport, and so it’s not known within the country and hence lacks support.”
“But it’s growing very fast and has been featured internationally in media houses like CNN - it’s the first and only African country to ever participate in the World Lacrosse Championships.”
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Kwesiga and team are also expectant that National Council of Sports will come through with a formal commitment.
“There has been no formal commitment from the NCS yet, though we expect something this week, and as soon as that is received,” Kwesiga said.
“We shall issue a press release to our sponsors, media, and well-wishers updating them on where our fundraising efforts stand so far.”
In a tale of once bitten, twice shy, Kwesiga added that they did not receive funding from NCS in the previous trips in 2014, 2018, and 2022, so they are not raising their expectations too high.
“All the trips Lacrosse has made internationally, Denver 2014, Israel 2018, Ireland 2022, NCS has never sponsored them. So, this will be the first time,” he explained.
An online campaign has raised $15,000 (about 56m) so far.
The team already granted US visas are in training with hopes of being the sole African representative at the championships after pipping Kenya to the spot in the qualifiers.
“The team is currently doing training in Uganda, and they will later this month be joined by American coaches for residential training camps.”
“The coach, Patrick Oriana, the first Ugandan head coach who was the Captain of the 2014 team, is handling that,” Kwesiga said.
World Lacrosse is a non-government organisation providing financial support to the national team. This will be Uganda’s third time at the world championships.
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