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At least five Ugandan players have 'gone missing' in the United States following their participation in the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego.
The five players were part of the 26-man contingent, including three technical staff for the championships held from June 21 to July 1.
According to Wallnetnews.com, five players, including the captain Keith Lubangakene disappeared from the team's hotel as they were preparing to return to Uganda.
"The players that went AWOL include; Keith Lubangakene, Allan Amone, Benard Otim, Innocent Anyala, and Solomon Adiyo, were not found at the team's hotel when they were preparing to leave the country," Wallnetnews.com reported.
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Our efforts to contact the Lacrosse General Manager, Brian Kwesiga, based in the United States, were futile as messages went unanswered.
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Locally, the Uganda Lacrosse Association acting president Kenneth Kasule is reportedly under investigation for alleged mismanagement of funds for the trip and was unavailable.
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Uganda finished 30th in the tournament in a disappointing run as they failed to get a single victory despite a spirited fight.
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The five Lacrosse players join the ever-growing list of Uganda's disappearing acts.
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Recent disappearing acts
Several Ugandan athletes across sports disciplines have taken advantage of international outings to seek green pastures.
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At flagging-off ceremonies, it is common practice for government officials to warn athletes against vanishing in wealthier countries, urging the sports ambassadors to be patriots.
In 2015, Rugby Sevens players Benon Kizza and Phillip Pariyo disappeared from the 2015 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The duo would later turn up playing rugby for an amateur club in Wales as alleged asylum seekers.
Uganda Bombers stars David Ayiti, Geoffrey Kakeeto and African welterweight champion Muzamiru Kakande went missing at the 2017 AIBA World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. They are pursuing their careers in Germany.
At the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, six Ugandan athletes; cyclist Vienna Ssekanga, weightlifters Irene Kasubo and Kalidi Batuusa, two boxers Regan Ssimbwa and Nasir Bashir and a table tennis player Halima Nambozo went missing.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ugandan weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko went missing. He was arrested four days later and deported. On arrival in Uganda, he was arrested and later released.
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