If the taxes are not enough to construct and maintain sports facilities, let us use them to hire from those with what we need and lack at the same time.

Because Uganda as a country does not possess a stadium that meets the minimum standard required to host an AFCON Qualifier match, the Cranes have to be on the move for all their games.

And as such, Uganda will host Algeria in Cameroon in their penultimate match of the qualifiers.

This is after inspections done by the Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang and Fufa President Moses Magogo confirmed that Namboole was not ready and would not be ready in time for the match on June 12.

The minister has since had to apologize to Ugandans for failing to have Namboole ready, having promised that the government would do all it takes to have the next Cranes game played on home soil.

Uganda already played a home match far away from home in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, hosting Tanzania in Ismailia, Egypt, last month in March.

That Uganda does not have a standard stadium is no surprise at the moment, the surprise in FUFA's decision to choose Cameroon as the best alternative to host the Cranes' next home match.

Why Cameroon? Why not go back to Egypt?

While choosing Egypt last time, FUFA indicated that it was the ideal place because it was easy for players from all over the world to connect there.

Now it is Cameroon. Uganda lost 1-0 to Tanzania in the game played in Egypt; maybe there's no luck there.

Yes, Cameroon hosted the 2020 AFCON and CHAN finals tournaments and have four stadiums that meet the required standards, but a trip there will cost Uganda much more than one to Egypt would.

Magogo's only valid point about Cameroon as FUFA's choice is the friendly game with the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon will be free and able to entertain a friendly match in the June international window since they are in a group that has just three teams.

Regarding travel expenses, you don't need a degree to know that flying directly to Egypt is cheaper than connecting to Cameroon.

Whether the game is played in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde or Douala, the cost is pretty high compared to Egypt.

The Daily Monitor this week quoted some figures and showed the difference in ticket prices from Entebbe to Cairo and Entebbe to Douala.

An air ticket to Douala will cost $852 using RwandAir and $1 027 using Ethiopian Airlines.

Meanwhile, FUFA would spend $699 on each member of the contingent from Entebbe to Cairo.

But why are we into all this mathematics anyway? Uganda would not be having these conversations by simply constructing and improving already existing infrastructure.

Rogers Mato's goal might have resurrected the Cranes' chances of qualifying but playing a home game with no home support leaves the team with no advantage at all.

But in a country where exhibitions are now about roads encroaching on the city potholes in the capital and the poor health system, what are the chances that sports facilities make sense to the only people that can make a difference?

As is the case with the health care system, if you cannot invest in having hospitals at home, you must be ready to fund treatment far away from home.

Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara, Recreational Grounds, Masaka and Mbale Municipal Stadium are some of the existing facilities that require a bit of work to get to acceptable standards.

These might not even have to be at the standard acceptable by CAF or FIFA to host big matches but good enough for use locally.

While FUFA is being tossed around by CAF, it is the same federation that inspects and hands licences to clubs to use certain facilities for local football.

FUFA's failure to meet CAF and FIFA standards cannot be strage. The same federation has to hand out licences for different stadia to be used for the various leagues in Uganda, but only a few meet the standards, and that is at a much lower level.

And that tells you everything you need to know about the state of facilities in Uganda.

Therefore, while we question FUFA's decision to go wherever there are proper stadiums, the question should be; why are we in this state?

If the taxes are not enough to construct and maintain sports facilities, let us use them to hire from those with what we need and lack at the same time.