Netball: “I’m So Happy that Coach Mugerwa Did not Dump us for Other Countries”, UNF President on She Cranes’ Tactician Contract Extension

On Wednesday, the Uganda Netball Federation announced that they have extended the Contract of She Cranes Coach, Ssalongo Fred Mugerwa Tabale for a period of two years.

Mugerwa who guided Uganda to finish fifth in the world and number one on continent in the 2023 Netball World Cup held in South Africa, his contract was expiring in October this year and there were rumors that other countries were in need of his services ahead of Africa Netball Championship. But yesterday his contract was extended until 2025.

The decision to extend his contract was made by the UNF executive committee that also had a sitting on Wednesday at the federation office at Aga Khan Building Old Kampala in Mengo. 

“I am so happy that coach Mugerwa did not dumb us for other countries.” Says UNF President Babirye Kityo Sarah.

“We have been able to renew our contract with Coach Mugerwa, he is very technical, very knowledgeable and he’s a mentor, so as a country it would be bad if we lost him at a point where we need him most. So am so grateful to God, I am so happy that he has agreed to renew his contract with us despite the fact that there has been so many challenges, like he is demanding some money from the federation, I am so happy that he didn’t dump us even when there are other countries that were giving him better monies, he didn’t dump us, so am happy for such a Nationalist.

We have agreed that we shall be paying him the salary for new contract but as we also make arrangements to keep giving him the arrears though in beats.” She explained.

Despite the fact that he has been and still demanding his arrears from the federation, Mugerwa decided to continue with She Cranes as the head coach.

“the other time when we came back from South Africa, I told people that I might not renew my contract with Uganda Netball Federation because I was not paid but I came to understanding with the federation and they have promised to keep on paying me as we continue to working because they told me they situation they have been in and they are willing to pay my arrears which they have promised to be giving in installments and to me that what I had wanted them to tell me, now they have committed themselves on that, i can continue working.” Mugerwa in his words.

Mugerwa’s first task in this new contract is to prepare the She Cranes for the 2023 Africa Netball Championship to be held in late November in Botswana.