In a bid to help Uganda Cranes campaign in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup campaigns the Uganda Cranes official sponsors MTN Uganda have increased the team sponsorship to Shs1.48b.

This reflects an increment of over Shs500m, from the Shs900m which the telephone company offered the Cranes over the past three years.

Over Shs1b will be sent to the Fufa coffers in cash, some of which will cater for the MTN Inter Regional Tournament for the next three years, but a bigger chunk will go to the national team.

Speaking at the unveiling of the sponsorship package at Serena Hotel yesterday, MTN CEO Themba Khumalo expressed the company's commitment towards football development in Uganda.

"As Uganda continues to make greater progress for the World Cup and Africa Cup, we are persuaded to renew our sponsorship and we hope it can be a morale booster for the campaign that starts on Saturday," Khumalo said.

Fufa president Lawrence Mulindwa pledged to do his best on behalf of the federation to reciprocate MTN's support through performances on the pitch.