Group D Afcon qualifiers

Saturday, Burkina Faso vs Uganda – Ouagadougou

Tuesday, Uganda vs Burkina Faso – Namboole 

There is a growing sense of optimism amongst Cranes players and Ugandans that this could finally be it.

Yes Uganda have come agonisingly close since 1978, when they were 2-0 losing finalists to hosts Ghana.

When they have not fallen short by a point, it was goal difference, and when they finally picked up the otherwise elusive away win, a 1-0 away victory in Guinea Bissau in the 2012 Afcon qualifiers, they bottled it at Namboole in a goalless draw with Kenya.

Yet, despite several falls over the years, Ugandans continue to hope, and now they have even more reason to anticipate given that the Cranes find themselves in a little different situation.

Another away victory has already been picked up in Comoros, but more tellingly is that coach Micho Sredojevic’s men lead Group D of the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers with maximum points after two matches, the first time this is happening.

And with Comoros beating Botswana 1-0 on Friday to leave every team in the group with at least a victory, Uganda could make a huge leap closer to Gabon 2017 with three points off Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Head to head

The two teams have met four times winning once each and drawing the other. The two draws have come at home; 2-2 in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and a goalless international friendly.

Uganda Cranes win came at the 2014 CHAN finals beating the Stallion 2-1 thanks to a brace from Yunus Sentamu whilst Cranes their last and only visit to Ouagadougou 2-0.

Faith

A win for Uganda would see them open a six-point lead on the Stallions, Comoros and Botswana, and with the reverse fixture just three days later in Kampala; the Cranes could do what they have failed in 39 years in just four matches.

The boys and their coach believe. “I feel motivated to play this game,” said Cranes midfielder Tonny Mawejje, who scored Uganda’s goal in the away victory over Comoros,.

“I have this strong a feeling that ‘we, beat Burkina Faso and we are in the promised land.’”

US-based Colorado Rapids midfield star Michael Azira reckons collectiveness will be paramount.

“We need to stick together as a group and work for each other. If we all pull together, there is nothing impossible,” the 28-year-old is quoted by the Daily Monitor.

“We all need to defend well,” he added, “If we defend well I know we have good strikers who can score goals. Overall we need to be disciplined.”

Coach Micho also knows they will have to summon their last sinew of energy to get something against the West Africans.

“We shall stretch over our limits but we also have got to be very disciplined when we attack, and organised when defending,” he said.

While victory or draw would further illuminate Uganda’s chances, anything short of a win would seriously dent the hosts’ chances, with their next game a trip to Kampala.

The plan

Uganda and Burkina Faso have each won once and drawn twice in the four times they have faced off.

The Stallions will be expected to come at the Cranes, with Burkina Faso hitmen Jonathan Pitroipa, Alain Traoré and Aristide Bancé pounding the visitors while Bakary Koné and company keep it tight at the back.

Micho Sredojevic is expected to play defensive with any of Hassan Wasswa and Michael Azira, together with Khalid Aucho, providing cover for the back four.

Tonny Mawejje, Farouk Miya and Kizito Luwagga should operate just ahead of the aforementioned duo, with team captain Geoffrey Massa leading the line.

Yet to concede in four Nations and World Cup qualifying matches, Dennis Onyango  should keep his place in goal, with Dennis Guma, Joseph Ochaya, Mrushid Juujo and Isaac Isinde completing the back four.

The Stallions coach Paulo Duarte has tasked his charges to be resolute and break down Onyango’s wall of defiance.

“We must wake up and correct our mistakes and promote the good things we have. We have to fight,” he told local Burkina Faso press.

• Uganda Cranes Probable XI: Dennis Onyango, Denis Guma, Isaac Isinde, Murushid Jjuuko, Joseph Ochaya, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Khalid Aucho, Tonny Mawejje, Kizito Luwagga, Farouk Miya, Geoffrey Massa
• Substitutes: Robert Odongkara, Timothy Awany, Godfrey Walusimbi, Michael Azira, Moses Oloya, Emmanuel Okwi, Hamis Kiiza
• @UPL

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Police has banned skating on roads and warned that defiant people will be prosecuted.

This follows numerous complaints by the public about wrong characters masquerading as skaters, who they say grab their property through vehicle windows and on street pavements.

According to the Deputy Police Spokesperson Polly Namaye, many of these criminals normally snatch laptop, phones, bags, side mirrors, bunches of matooke and charcoal from moving trucks.

“We have given instructions to all our traffic officers to caution the roller speed-skaters on the roads that they will be arrested. They have been banned due to public demand that many of them are thugs,” she said.

Police named areas around Bwaise, Nakulabye, the City Centre, and Kawempe as some of the hotspots to intensify the operation.

Meanwhile, police has said that residents of areas such as Makerere Kikoni and Mulago have expressed concern for criminal gangs that ambush and forcefully grab their property.

Police Spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga pointed out a group called Kifesi is the one terrorizing the city and that so far over 30 of its members have been arrested in different operations by the police Flying Squad.

“Most of these are juveniles aged 12 to 16 years, they put up road blocks and steal from people,” Mr Enanga said, adding that several operations and patrols are going on especially during night hours to curb the vice.

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The Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Kale Kayihura has assured the county of a peaceful Easter holiday season.

According to the IGP, the police will work hand in hand with other security agencies to ensure that peace prevails throughout the festivity.

“I would like to assure the country that Uganda police force supported by other security agencies is exerting all efforts to ensure your security and safety especially during this festive season,” a statement released by the IGP on Friday, reads in part.

Ugandans head into the Easter holidays with tensions in the Western districts of Bundibugyo and Kasese, where clashes between civilians and security officials have left over 30 people dead, many displaced and scores injured.

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Uganda’s sole power supplier Umeme Limited plans to invest 270 billion shillings (US$80 million) this year in upgrading its network.

According to a financial statement, the company plans to spend the money on improving services, network growth and cutting on energy losses.

“The company continues to implement its investment programme to improve the customer experience and grow the electricity distribution sector in line with government priorities,” Umeme said in the statement.

“Upon the completion, the additional power from Karuma and Isimba Hydro projects coupled with our investments in the network will increase access to electricity in the country,” the statement adds.

Umeme says the country has a peak demand of 540 megawatts against generation capacity of 670 megawatts, while state-run Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) says that at least 15 percent of the Ugandan population has access to electricity.

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