The national cricket team is set to fly off to Bermuda Tuesday, after securing both the United Kingdom transit visas and Bermuda entry visas. They were denied transit visas last week.
They will be flying earlier than the scheduled start of the Pepsi ICC Division III Cricket league that is set to run April 28 to May 5 in Bermuda. The top two nations will advance to the ICC Division II Cricket League while the bottom countries will be relegated to the Division IV action.
According to the UCA chief executive officer Justine Ligyalingi, they were able to secure the visas on Monday after intervention by the different parties including the British High Commission. The office also waived the visa appeal fees.
“It is now okay and we are focused for the tournament. A contingent of 17 will be travelling to Bermuda in order to have a number of international friendly games ahead of the competition” said Ligyalingi.
The team has for the last six months been training for the tournament, which will give Uganda an opportunity to be promoted to the top division.
The promotion comes with more development assistance from the ICC, and also opens the door to more competitive cricket amongst other Division II nations.
Uganda will be led by Davis Karashani in their campaign for the qualification.
The team: Davis Arinaitwe Karashani (Captain), Roger Mukasa, Jonathan Ssebanja, Arthur Kyobe, Frank Nsubuga (Vice Captain), Benjamin Musoke, Lawrence Ssematimba, Deusdedit Muhumuza, Michael Ndiko, Charles Waiswa, Richard Okia, Brian Masaba, Henry Ssenyondo, Arthur Ziraba.
By Norman Katende, The New Vision