FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

Author: Ahmed Marsha

  • Bunamwaya changes name to VIPERS Sports Club

    Thousands of football fans turned up at Buikwe ground to witness the unveiling of Bunamwaya’s new name-VIPERS SC

    Founded in 1969, Bunamwaya SC had maintained its name for 43 years until yesterday, Sunday August 19, 2012 when the club unveiled a new name -VIPERS SC!

    The club also officially announced the recruitment of a Nigerian tactician Duru Chukuma Ambrose as the new head coach taking over from Edward Golola who will now concentrate his energies on developing talents in St. Marys’ Kitende Secondary School. Chukuma was due to arrive in the country this Monday morning to start his official work on Tuesday.

    The colourful function attended by a mammoth audience was presided over by Vipers Sports Club Limited Director who also doubles as a Ugandan FA President Lawrence Mulindwa. He was in company of his Vice president in charge of Technical matters Livingstone Kyambadde at Buikwe, a team’s home ground, 47Kms east of Kampala City.

    Mulindwa hailed the Buikwe people for the support they have rendered the team and promised to support the area clubs as a measure to develop football in the district. He donated 100 balls to be shared among such clubs. Mulindwa said the decision to change the club’s name was to give the team a more national look and be an all embracing club other than sounding limited to only Bunamwaya community.

    He was however quick to commend Bunamwaya residents for nurturing the side and helping them qualify for the Super Division side in 2005. Bunamwaya joined the National League in 2005 during a Super Mini league held in Bukalasa in Luwero district.

    “I believe that a Ugandan club can emerge National champion, excel at Cecafa level and proceed to win a continental championship. We are launching a new name with more seriousness”, Mulindwa stressed.

    He further added that the club would soon go to polls to elect new office bearers and urged fans to register. The club Secretary Haruna Kyobe later disclosed that 427 new fans got registered on Sunday.

    Vipers Sports Club disclosed their strategy to develop a modern stadium in Buikwe but Mulindwa warned opportunists against hiking prices that may scare them away. The function was also attended by the area Mayor and the fans got entertained by a number of music artists.

  • 14 club chairmen endorse new League statutes

    Anthony Kimuli chaired the committee that formulated the new statutes under the guidance of FIFA. He also briefed the media on the developments this Wednesday.

    A total of fourteen (14) Super Division club chairmen have so far complied with the new statutes that will be a basis in the running and the management of the National League starting this immediate season.

    The club chairmen have already appended their signatures on the new constitution and the Articles and Memorandum of Associations that will soon be presented to the Registrar of Companies for records. SC Villa and URA are the only two clubs that remain defiant to the process that was launched a month ago in presence of the world football governing body (FIFA) at Golf Course Hotel.

    The fourteen have also signed a set of resolutions that include forming a new league as guided by FIFA known as FUFA Premier League Ltd and engaging the services of the legal firm to register the newly adopted constitution and incorporate the new entity to run and manage the league under the supervision of FUFA.

    The chairmen include Mike Okua (KCC), Vincent Bbaale Mugera (Express), Hajji Habib Kagimu (Proline), Kitandwe Thadeus (Bunamwaya), Hon. Vincent Ssempijja (Masaka LC), Alias Sliver (Bidco), Kimuli Anthony (Entebbe Young), Asan Kasingye (Police), Simo Dubajic (Victoria University) and Rwamazi Tom (Victors). Others are Eng. Kibuuka Kyobe (Waters), Brig. Hussein Ada (Simba), Ochen Tommy (Maroons) and Lukwago Jimmy of Kiira Young.

    The General Assembly of Club Chairmen will soon convene to elect a board of 5 members tasked with the running of the league. The members of the board according to the new statutes must not be club chairmen/officials but a composition of independent professionals. The elected board will thereafter appoint the members of the secretariat. The League is tentatively expected to flag off on September 25.

     

  • FUFA confirms hosting Cecafa, committee named

    Eng. Magogo to chair LOC

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed its position to host this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

    The regional tournament that has for the last two years been hosted by Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) will now come to Kampala in late November to mid December. FUFA Chief Executive officer Edgar Watson said they had finalized all the consultations and a confirmation letter already sent to the regional secretariat.

    Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup is sponsored by the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) through the Tusker brand. In a related development, the FUFA Executive has named a 10-man local organizing committee to start off the preparations of hosting the oldest Football Championship in East and Central Africa.

    FUFA Vice President in charge Administration Eng. Moses Magogo chairs the committee with Patrick Ogwel (VP-Youth) as his deputy. Edgar Watson is the committee secretary. Others are Mujib Kasule (VP USL), Livingstone Kyambadde (VP-Technical), Anthony Kimuli (VP-Finance), Rogers Mulindwa (Media), Lwere Sam (Security), Rogers Byamukama and Sam Mpiima (Marketing and sponsorship).

    As part of its first assignment, the committee is expected to meet with the Minister of state for Sports Hon Charles Bakabulindi to discuss the detailed program of the three week’s event. Uganda last hosted this championship in 2008 when they edged Kenya 1-0 in the finals. The Uganda Cranes are the defending champions after dumping Amavubi of Rwanda 2-1 in the finals played from the National Stadium of Dar es salaam last year.

  • FUFA’s Letti mourns dead brother

    West Nile FUFA Region Chairman Mike Letti with deep sorrow announces the death of his elder brother Captain William Letti of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

    “This is a trying moment for me and the entire Letti family. We are yet to come to terms with the reality that he is no more” writes the Regional chairperson in an official email to the Federation Communications department.

    Letti said both himself and the deceased brother supported KCC Football club since their childhood times. “Painful memories of our childhood growing together and supporting KCC FC at Nakivubo will for a long time linger in my mind” he added.

    Letti has called upon the football family to pray for him during this trying moment. “I am completely devastated and at a big loss. My pain is unbearable, but my belief lies in God the almighty provider who knows why it has happened so. Please consider my situation as a prayer item” he concluded.

    The deceased was a pilot attached to the air force department and they were travelling to Somalia on a peace keeping mission. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

    Mike Letti lost an army brother serving under UPDF

  • Progress on top tier League in Uganda

    Reference is made on the progress of the top tier league in the Uganda Super League since the FIFA panel’s visit in Uganda on 26th June 2012 at Golf course hotel. The meeting had a FIFA led panel of Mr. Primo Carvaro, Ashford Mamelodi, Tenga Leodegar, Bob Monro and Nicholas Valticos. The FUFA Executive, club chairmen and Officials of the super league were represented. The sanctioned officials thus Mr. Kavuma Kabenge and Ebil Segawa were invited by FIFA to witness the process.

    A committee headed by Mr. Kimuli Anthony composed of Clubs and FUFA representatives was constituted to embark on formulating new League Statutes and ensuring new order. A list of club chairmen was also identified, reviewed and registered with FUFA and the FIFA panel as the official link in the progress on the top tier league. It was also agreed in this meeting that no Super League activity should continue until the entire process is completed.

    This whole process was to ensure that before the new league 2012-13 starts, matters of contention, governance and association football regulations are realigned.

    The new League Statutes were formulated through a meeting of the chairmen of the super league clubs (as per the chairmen list obtained on 26th June 2012 at Golf course hotel) on Sunday 29th July 2012 at Hotel Africana; thirteen clubs have subscribed to the statutes.

    Thirteen chairmen have also signed resolutions to incorporate a new entity called FUFA Premier League Ltd that will run and manage the FUFA Premier League. FUFA has accepted to delegate the authority to run and manage the top tier League to this new entity. The Chairmen have also resolved to maintain their obligations, considerations, and the terms of the contracts with Uganda Breweries Limited, Eco-Bank, and Super Sport.

    The process of incorporation of the FUFA Premier League Ltd is currently on-going. The next course of action shall be election of the board by the clubs under the Premier League statutes before the new season begins

    This process has been communicated to FIFA and the sponsors to keep them abreast of the progress and FUFA is waiting for the approval of FIFA in this regard. The Clubs, stakeholders and entire public is henceforth advised to take note of this development.

    Federation of Uganda Football Associations

  • Ochaya set to play for Asante Kotoko

    Ochaya in action recently against Lugave club

    The Hippos left defender and KCC player Joseph Ochaya has passed the medical tests to join Asante Kotoko Football Club in Ghana.

    Asante Kotoko are the current champions of the Ghanaian Glo Premier League after collecting 63 points from the 30 matches played in the season. Their closest rival AshGold finished second with 49 points just two points better that Hearts of Oak who took the third position.

    The Ghanaian scouts spotted Ochaya during the Hippos first leg match of the Africa Youth qualifiers in Kampala two weeks ago. They immediately launched negotiations with the Kampala City Council Club officials.

    His superb performance in Tamale Sports Stadium on Saturday spiced up the earlier sealed position to sign the Ugandan youth player. Ochaya left the Hippos camp (on permission) on Sunday morning and flew to the club’s home in Kumasi City to undergo the medical tests. Uganda Team Manager Faisal Mohammad confirmed the developments.

    If the deal is written to the final dot, Ochaya will become the first Ugandan player to feature for a premier league team in Ghana. In 1999, there were attempts by Hearts of Oak to sign SC Villa’s Hakim Magumba but the deal never materialized.

    Ochaya flies back to Accra this afternoon to join the rest of the team before embarking on their trip back to Entebbe. He will thereafter arrange to travel back to Ghana before their league kicks off on October 7. Asante Kotoko officials are expected in Kampala shortly to sign the contract.

  • FUFA to keep Hippos focused

    The Hippos players celebrating one of their goals during the Africa Youth Championship a campaign.

    The Uganda U20 National team, the Hippos returns home Tuesday morning after painfully exiting from the African Youth Championship at Tamale Sports stadium on Saturday.

    The Hippos that travelled to Ghana with a 3-1 home win advantage succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to lose the slot to the Black Satellites on a 4-3 aggregate. Ghana will now play Morocco in the third and final round of the qualifiers.

    The team led by the Vice President Technical Stone Kyambadde left Tamale on Sunday morning and spent a night in Accra City. They will be on flight No. KQ 509T to Nairobi this Monday evening and are expected at Kenyata International Airport around 5:30am the following day. Their final flight to Entebbe (KQ 410T) leaves Nairobi at 07:55 and lands at Entebbe International Airport at 09:10am (Local Time).

    Future plans:

    FUFA wishes to congratulate the young Hippos players upon getting to this level and urging them to remain focused. The Federation is committed to maintaining this squad and exposing the young boys to more friendly matches as we prepare them for other engagements to come.

    To the Technical bench, we urge you to put right the mistakes committed in this particular tournament in order to avoid a repeat of the same in future. It’s obvious that a loss is a result of mistakes committed. We however commend the entire coaching staff for guiding this young side to the second round of the championship.

  • Eastern are 2012 FUFA-MTN Cup Champions

    Eastern Regional Chairman, Samuel Lwere coordinated his side well and the sweat earned him a title.

    Eastern are the champions of the 2012 FUFA-MTN Inter Region competitions after dumping Western 3-1 in the finals played at Arua Hills Primary School in West Nile.

    Determined Eastern Region took the lead in the 25th minute through Joseph Owino. Eleven minutes later the same player was on target to stretch the lead to 2-0 before Western pulled one back at the edge of the first half through Bashaya Hebert.

    Paul Emenyo scored Eastern Region’s third goal in the 70th minute that threw their fans into wild jubilations. FUFA Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson crowned the champions with a glittering trophy and a cash prize of UGX 4m. The tournament sponsors, MTN gave out a fully connected cellular phone and an umbrella to each of the 18 players and two officials of the winning region.

    MTN Sponsorship coordinator M/s Rhona Namanya, the Communications Coordinator M/s Windi Angudeyo and the company Marketer Aggrey Kagonyera attended the closing ceremony. Western region walked off with UGX 2.5m.  MTN also donated an umbrella and a T-shirt to each of the 20 players and officials of the first runners-up.

    Two goal- scorer Owino Joseph was voted the man of the match to earn himself a phone and an umbrella from the sponsors. The best Goal keeper of the tournament was Wekiya Samuel from the Eastern Region while the Fair play award went to the Western Region.

    Earlier on, hosts West Nile edged defending champions Kampala region 1-0 to book the third place and a cash prize of UGX 1.5m. The losers took UGX 1m.

  • Procedure for Registration of Players for the season 2012/13

    Pursuant to FIFA and FUFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players and further to our earlier communication (Our ref:  FCC/GEN/2012/007/003) regarding players registration and club licensing program with FUFA, FCC (as delegated by FUFA) has issued the procedure of player registration.

    Copies of various forms have been sent to your respective mails. Players, respective clubs, and FUFA are required to submit information and endorse by signature and stamp as appropriate.

    The Chart of Forms also sent to clubs detail the various forms/attachments required depending on the status code of each player. The Status Code defines the status of each player in regard to the new registration by considering which status he was the previous season (2011/12) and what he is going to be in the new season (2012/13).

    FCC will only process registration for players whose information has been correctly and completely filled and submitted by the closure of the FUFA primary players’ registration window thus 23rd September 2012.

    Clubs are also reminded to consider the minimum contract content requirements progressively issued by FUFA as contracts without these requirements may not be used to safeguard the club in an international player transfer transaction on the FIFA Transfer Matching System.

    Clubs should also ensure that their players’ contracts are witnessed by the FUFA CEO before they are accepted as a true record in the licensing system.

    Please do not hesitate to get back to Mr. Kiiza Decolas, Secretary Competitions Committee or any member/staff of the FCC for further explanation.

    For the Good of the Game

  • Hippos takes on Ghana in Tamale stadium this Saturday

    The Uganda Hippos on Friday morning took their second flight from Accra to Tamale over 400Kms north of the Ghanaian City where they will play the hosts in the return leg of the second round of the Africa U20 Youth Championship qualifiers this Saturday.

    The team left Hotel M-Plaza in Accra where they had spent a night around 6:00am in the morning and by 8:15am they had already embarked on their flight that lasted 45 minutes. In Tamale, the team in hosted at M-AS Hotel a short distance to Tamale Sports Stadium.

    The Leader of delegation and Vice President in charge of Technical matters, Mr. Stone Kyambadde says, the team was well received by their hosts and that the environment is very friendly to them.

    The game that will be broadcast live on Central Broadcasting Services (CBS 89.2) FM will kick off at 3:00pm (6:00pm UG Time). The team will have an early lunch before proceeding to the stadium. Kyambadde has called for prayers in the task Uganda is undertaking this evening.

    Meanwhile, the people of Ghana continue mourning their fallen Head of State as the majority don the black and red colours.

  • Its Western VS Eastern FUFA-MTN final

    Defending champions Kampala Region lost 1-0 to determined Western region to miss out in this year’s FUFA-MTN Inter Region finals to be played this Saturday in Arua.

    Kampala who were targeting a third consecutive title after emerging champions in 2010 (Tororo) and 2011 (Kabaale), lost the battle in the second half of the extra time. Western Region will now be looking to winning their first cup since the inauguration of this tournament in 2009. Buganda region were the pioneer champions. This is the second time Kampala is missing out in the finals in four years.

    In the second semi finals, hosts West Nile were also dumped by Eastern Region after a 1-0 result in a match played to big crowd of spectators. West Nile would have pushed the game into an extra time if Madilu Ezra had converted a penalty awarded to them in the last minutes of the second half. The youthful player however shot over the bar to deny the home team an important equalizer. No home team in the history of this tournament has ever lifted this title. West Nile therefore joins Northern, Eastern and Western in hosting and missing out in the finals.

    Kampala will play West Nile in the classification game at 10am on Saturday before Western battles Eastern in the finals. The winner takes UGX 4.000.000, the first runners-up UGX 2.500.000, the third best team takes home UGX 1.500.000 while the fourth team pockets UGX 1.000.000. The prize money is part of the UGX 70.000.000 sponsorship package by MTN.

  • Uganda not Kenya will host the Challenge Cup-Musonye

    Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye (left) and the FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa. Musonye has rubbished claims that this year’s Challenge Cup goes to Nairobi.

    Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye has cast aspersions on Kenya hosting this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup insisting that it will be hosted by Uganda starting mid November.

    On Thursday, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) issued a statement indicating that sponsors EABL were happy with the event being held in Kenya but Musonye rubbished the claims.

    “This year’s Cecafa will be hosted by Uganda as we said before. We have no further communication to the contrary from our sponsors. Those talking about Kenya hosting are missing the point,” Musonye told journalists in Nairobi.

    Tanzania hosted the last two editions in 2010 and 2011 as Kenya hosted in 2009 but the tournament in Nairobi suffered a poor fans turnout in the stadium.

    Meanwhile FUFA has written to the Government through the National Council of Sports (NCS) seeking political permission to host the tournament. “A tournament of that magnitude where twelve nations convene in one country, you automatically have to seek government clearance” said Edgar Watson, the Federation Chief Executive Officer.

    Edgar however added that FUFA had the will and that the government officials contacted verbally had also sounded supportive to the move. Uganda Cranes are the defending champions of Cecafa-Tusker Senior Challenge Cup.

  • FUFA-MTN tourney: Buganda walks out empty-handed

    Buganda Region chairman Joseph Mwanje says his team’s early exit from the tournament never took him by surprise.

    Buganda Region failed to impress a third consecutive time in the FUFA-MTN inter Region Competitions when they bowed out of the tournament without a win.

    Buganda last won this championship in 2009 when they edged Kampala 1-0 in the finals hosted by Lira District Football Association. Sliver Ochaya scored the region’s winner in the 12th minute to earn the region a title.

    In this year’s tournament sponsored by MTN at a tune of UGX 70m, Buganda emerged the first team to be showed exit after losing 3-1 to Eastern, 2-1 to Kampala and going down 2-0 against the newly created North Eastern Region.

    Team Manager Brian Masembe blamed this year’s early exit on poor preparations. “We did not prepare well and the results are not a surprise” he said. His comments were echoed by the Regional chairperson Joseph Mwanje who was quoted in today’s New Vision saying he was not surprised by the results and blamed the poor show on unsportsmanlike conduct on part of his players.

    The finals will be played this Saturday at 3pm. Arua district chairperson Hon. Wadri Sam is the expected chief guest.  The tournament was officially flagged off by the FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.

    The classification game will be played at 10am. The winner of this championship takes home a cash prize of UGX 4m, the first runners-up UGX 2.5m, the third best team earns UGX 1.5m and UGX 1m for the fourth team.

  • FUFA-MTN Inter Region tourney enters semis

    Western Chairman, Abass Ssendyowa
    West Nile chairman, Mike Letti
    Eastern Chairman, Sam Lwere
    Kampala Chairman, Mid Juma

    Four superior regions will this Friday afternoon battle for the two slots in this year’s finals of the FUFA-MTN Inter Regional competitions at Arua Hills Primary School ground.

    In the first semi final to be played at 1:00pm, defending champions Kampala takes on Western Region in a highly anticipated thriller. Eastern will play hosts West Nile in the second semi final to determine the second finalist.

    Hosts West Nile, advanced into the semis after edging both Kitara and Mid North on a 1-0 margin. They however lost their last group stage match 2-1 to Western Region but the six points at hand had already assured them of a slot into today’s semi finals.

    Buganda, Mid North, Northern and Kitara regions are already on their way back home after failing to go past the group stages.

    The finals will be played on Saturday with a curtain raiser match coming first between FUFA 11 and the staff of Arua One FM. The classification game will be played at noon on the same day.

  • Malawi-Uganda friendly match called off

    The Cranes players will continue training as the federation makes an attempt to secure another friendly match before playing Zambia

    FUFA has this afternoon received an official communication from our counterparts in Malawi indicating an abrupt cancellation of the earlier planned international friendly match in Blantyre on August 15.

    FUFA is however making an effort to secure another friendly match before we play Zambia in the final round of the Afcon 2013 qualifiers.

    We shall keep the team training as we also push for an alternative. Meanwhile the team trained at Namboole this morning with creative midfielder Dan Wagaluka on pitch.

    Emmanuel Okwi and Johnson Bagoole are expected to train with the rest of the team tomorrow (Friday).

     

  • Pearl Sporto to fly Cranes fans to Zambia

    Cranes fans will have an opportunity to cheer the Cranes against Zambia on September 8 at a subsidized cost of USD 1000 all inclusive

    FUFA wishes to clarify that Pearl Sporto is the only company officially authorized to coordinate the fans’ travel to Zambia to cheer the Cranes team next month.

    This understanding is however only limited to fans who wish to travel by Air. The federation will soon pronounce itself on other arrangements connected to road transport.

    This is done to ensure that all fans wishing to travel to Zambia are in safe custody. Charges for the return ticket have been fixed at USD 1400 and USD 1000 for passengers in Business and Economy classes respectively.

    Under this arrangement, every travelling fan will be entitled to a free Cranes Replica jersey, internal transport, a stadium access ticket, accommodation for one night and Breakfast.

    Pearl Sporto is hereby warned against diverting from the agreed position and to ensure that our fans are given cordial treatment during their travel. Fans are however not enslaved to travel with Pearl Sporto but the Federation will not be answerable to queries outside the arrangement known to us.

    WE GO, WE GO…Uganda Cranes we go!

  • Uganda Hippos off to Ghana

    FUFA Vice President in charge of Technical Matters Livingstone Kyambadde led the Uganda delegation to Ghana this Thursday morning.

    The Uganda Hippos left this Thursday morning for Ghana to play their second leg match against the Black Satellites in the second round of the Africa U20 Youth Championship due this Saturday.

    The 25-man contingent left aboard Kenya Airways at 5:07am with FUFA Vice President in charge of Technical matters Stone Kyambadde leading the delegation. The delegation comprised 18 players and seven officials.

    Magoola Salim (Express) and Kalyowa Emmanuel (Simba) travelled as goalkeepers. The defenders on the squad are Ssenkoomi Samuel (URA) Namwanja Simon (Proline), Ochaya Joseph (KCC), Katende Miisi (SC Villa), Makoba Denis (Proline), Wadada Nicholas (Bunamwaya) and team Captain Mukisa Lubowa from Proline.

    The Mid Field department has Mpande Joseph (Bunamwaya), Omonuk Robert (Simba), Ogwang Julius (Express), Nkata Fred (Bombo Utd), Kizito Geofrey (Vietnam),  Gigi Abubaker (Proline) and Aucho Khalid (Simba SC). Ssekisambu Eriasi (URA) and Wadri William (Proline) travelled as strikers.

    Ndugga Geoffrey will be in Ghana on Saturday to bring us the game live from Tamale Sports Stadium on Central Broad Casting Services (CBS 89.2).

     

  • Cranes starts preps a head of Malawi friendly

     

    Hamis Kiiza in action during the recently concluded Cecafa-Kagame club Championship. His good performance earned his a recall to the Cranes squad currently preparing for an international friendly match against Malawi on August 15.

    Uganda Cranes started preparations this Wednesday ahead of an international friendly match against Malawi scheduled for August 15 in Blantyre.

    Head Coach Bobby Williamson was in charge of the training session held this morning at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Four professional players, Hamis Kiiza, Isaac Isinde, Mike Sserumaga and Hassan Wasswa attended the training.

    The team will however travel without some of its key players due to either club commitments or injuries. Among the notable absentees will be team Captain Andy Mwesigwa, Goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Geoffrey Massa and Brian Omony. Moses Oloya’s fate will be confirmed by end of tomorrow (Thursday).

    FUFA however wishes to clarify that August 15, a date set for the Malawi friendly match is not considered an international FIFA day for friendly matches in Africa. The date was traded with June 16 of this year by CAF. Upon this background therefore, clubs have the right to retain the players for club duty.

    We are however making all the attempts to sweet talk some clubs to release the players. Abel Dhaira and Tonny Mawejje will connect directly to Malawi while Johnson Bagoole and Emmanuel Okwi are expected on Thursday. Wagaluka arrived Wednesday afternoon.