PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni today committed sponsorship of US$180,000 to facilitate a
promotional
tour and soccer game by FC Barcelona Legends who will visit Uganda in December
this year.
President
Museveni met FC Barcelona Legends Captain and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,
Patrick
Kluivert, and team member Rayco Garcia Caberera, and confirmed his support
for
their visit in support of Uganda Tourism and Investment and investment, and youth development programms.
“I will
support you since what you are doing will bring in more tourists and
investors.
You are showing the world what Uganda Tourism has to offer. I
am also happy that
you are
providing youth programmes that will propel Ugandans onto the international
stage,”
President Museveni said.
Kluivert
and Garcia said they will establish a youth soccer development academy in
Uganda,
having identified a lot of talent within the country.
“I have
been here three weeks and I have seen with my own eyes that Uganda has a
lot
of
soccer talent here. There are many young people with great potential to make it
on the
world stage. We want to give them this opportunity,” Garcia said.
Kluivert,
who flew in on Sunday night, said he was overwhelmed by Uganda’s beauty
and tourism potential.
“In the
short time I have been here, I have no doubt that Uganda is one of the most
beautiful
countries in the world. We will give you good global coverage for both
tourism
and investment, because you have a lot to offer,” Kluivert said.
Gorillas of Uganda |
The duo
is here on a mission that includes UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador activities, as
well as
the identification of soccer talent in Uganda for promotion abroad, and the
identification
of opportunities to promote tourism and investment in Uganda using
the
Barcelona FC brand.
Barcelona
FC is the second most valuable sports team in the world, worth US$3.2
billion,
and the world's fourth richest football club in terms of revenue, with an annual
turnover of €484.6 million.
It is a
highly popular club with millions of fans around the world.
The duo
was, accompanied by Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba, Uganda Tourism Board
Member
Amos Wekesa, Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Stephen Asiimwe, and Uganda
Wildlife
Authority Executive Director Dr. Andrew Seguya.
Ends.