Category: District News

  • Rwenshama are Western Region Champs

    [image src=”https://fufauganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSC00503.jpg” lightbox=”yes” align=”left” float=”left”]Rwenshama FC from Rukungiri are the champions of the FUFA Western Region league.

    The club crowned at the beginning of this week will now have to play the table leader from Kitara regional league to determine the winner into the FUFA Big League next season.

    Speaking at the crowning ceremony held at Rukungiri Municipal stadium, FUFA Vice President Chris Kalibbala urged club officials to ensure discipline of their players as a way of developing quality and competitive talents. Rushere FC finished second with 23 points while Ibanda United trailed with 10 points on the table.

    Regional Chairperson Abbas Ssendyowa attended the function.

  • Defiant Kabenge in shocking drama!

    In what can be termed as real drama of events, the banned former Uganda Super League (USL) board chairperson, Kavuma Kabenge now denies knowledge of any disciplinary actions ever taken against him by FUFA or its judicial bodies!
    Kabenge has also down played all the past efforts showed by the world football governing body, FIFA , the Government of Uganda and any other institutions including Supersport in restoring sanity within the National league.
    “….It has been established that no disciplinary decision has ever been taken by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations and its judicial bodies against me” reads part of Kabenge’s March 15 response to FUFA. The errant official was responding to the communication from the Federation CEO Edgar Watson sent a day earlier warning him against the continued violation of association football rules.
    “Based on the meetings with FIFA officials Mr. Primo Canvaro and Ashford Mamelodi, with the Minister of State for Sports (Hon. Charles Bakabulindi) and with Super sport official Mr. Gary Rathbone, it was unanimously advised that you step aside and tender your appeal to the FUFA Appeals Committee” FUFA wrote. The statement further added, “Duly Constituted FUFA judicial bodies exist and that the first instance body (FUFA Disciplinary Committee) sat and pronounced itself on your matter. These matters are not disputes but disciplinary issues”.
    But Kabenge has stubbornly hit back alleging that such meetings did not have resolutions and therefore not binding. “There are no resolutions of meetings be it with the Minister of sports, FIFA nor Supersport that you are talking about……in the circumstance there is nothing to appeal against” wrote the errant former USL board chairman.
    In yet another parental approach, the federation had granted both Kabenge and former CEO Ebil Ssegawa three working days to express interest to appeal. The grace period expires on Monday March 19.
    FUFA further called for immediate withdraw of all matters brought before civil courts of law by the two officials or their agents as the actions were contrary to the rules governing association football and punishable. Kabenge has however remained quiet on the directive to withdraw court cases.
    With such details continuing to emerge from Kabenge, the judgment remains open to you to prove whether himself and his agents have any positive feelings towards the good of Ugandan football governed under association football rules. (Story compiled by Rogers Mulindwa, Head of Communications in FUFA)

  • Bell Cup:USL clubs land ‘easy’ fixtures

    Uganda Super Division Clubs have this Thursday morning landed ‘favourable’ fixtures in the round of 16 draws democratically conducted at Ivys Hotel here in Kamapala City.

    At this colourful function, the tournament sponsors, East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Uganda were represented by their Brand Manager, Dianah Nsubuga. FUFA Vice President in charge of Technical matters Livingstone Kyambadde stood in for the federation President Lawrence Mulindwa.

    The draw results will have the 2011 National League Champions and Bell-Uganda Cup finalists, URA travelling to Kasana Ground to play Luweero United FC on Tuesday March 27. On the same day another Super Division club Maroons FC hosts Aurum Roses as Bunamwaya SC travels to Namboole to play lowly ranked Misindye, a Fufa Big League club. Masaka LC hosts Victors at Masaka Recreational Ground the same Tuesday.

    A week earlier on March 20, SC Villa will have played Mbarara Old Timers in Nakivubo with Uganda Police hosting Boroboro Tigers in Namboole on March 29. Kireka United, a Kampala Regional League club will host Jinja Municipality which features in the FUFA Big League at Kyambogo University ground on Saturday march 31.

    In his speech read out for him by the Vice President in charge of technical matters Livingstone Kyambadde , the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa hailed the sponsors for choosing an upcountry ground to host this year’s finals. The finals will be played at Pece stadium in Gulu district on June 12. Mulindwa further called on the football fans in Uganda to EABL back by identifying with and consuming Bell Lager. EABL’s Dianah Nsubuga said they were committed to supporting football development in the country.

    The function was also attended by the Cranes Head Coach Bobby Williamson, a delegation from the East African Breweries limited (EABL) Uganda and club officials among others.

  • FUFA News Round up, March 7

    3 to sit player agents’ exams

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has short listed three applicants for the player Agents examinations scheduled for March 29. The successful candidates are John Nsambu Chrysostom, James Ofong and Musa Kizito. The trio will have to answer 20 questions, five of which will be locally set and the rest from FIFA. The Federation education officer, Mr. Lubega Byuma William will be in charge of the examinations.

    Women’s day tournament on

    Uganda Women Football Association in conjunction with FUFA have organized an annual March 8th international women’s day football tournament that will attract a total of 30 clubs between 8th and 10th of this month. The identified groups are U14, U19 and the open category that will draw participants from clubs, universities and tertiary institutions among others. The venues are Old Kampala and Mengo secondary school grounds. The finals will be staged in Nakivubo. FUFA will fund the tournament.

    Masembe to conduct referees’ course

    CAF instructor, Charles Masembe will this coming Sunday, March 11, 2011 conduct a referees’ refresher course at the federation headquarters in Mengo starting 8 o’clock. All referees that officiate the Bell Uganda super league and the FUFA Big League have been directed to attend. The one day training will mainly cover the areas of self management and the interpretation and application of the football laws.

    Beach soccer calendar out

    The Uganda Beach Football Association has released an activity calendar for this year. The registration of players that started on 1st march closes on Sunday this week while the round one of the league flags off on March 18 at Lido Beach Entebbe. The first edition of the National women Beach soccer is scheduled between 21-22 April. Three days have been earmarked for the Post-Primary National Beach competition between 15-17. The U13 competition runs in August, the inter University tournament rolls off on October 6 and there will be a National Beach symposium on December 1 before a National Corporate Beach Soccer competition between Dec 8-9.

    USL clubs in fight against Malaria

    Five Uganda Super League clubs have signed a partnership to join an international campaign in the fight against Malaria. Bunamwaya SC, Hoima-Busia, Bidco, Simba SC and Proline FC officials received branded warm-up kits, balls and bibs from the United Against Malaria (UAM) team leader in Uganda, Kenneth Mulondo from the federation headquarters in Mengo today morning. UAM teram will be in Bombo on Friday in their continued efforts to create awareness and galvanise commitment to end malaria death by 2015, a target date set by the United Nations.

  • USL Defiance: FIFA officials coming this Monday

    The continued defiance of association football rules by USL clubs and isolated individuals has attracted the intervention of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).

    Two high ranking FIFA officials will this Monday, February 6 jet into the country to access the situation. According to the communication received from Zurich, the development officer Mr. Ashford Mamelodi and Mr. Primo Corvaro from the FIFA Member Associations Committee are the two designated officials to follow up the matter. The duo will be in the country until Wednesday.

    While in Kampala, the FIFA officials are expected to hold a meeting with the ministry of education and sports officials on top of meeting the USL club chairmen among others sects. A detailed program will be released this Monday.

  • FUFA wins SOS court case

    Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Sylvia Nabaggala has this Friday dismissed the criminal charges brought by the Save Our Soccer (SOS) group against FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa, CEO Edgar Watson and the chairman of the Legal Committee, Mohammed Bazirengedde.

    The Magistrate threw out the case on grounds of being incompetent and erroneously brought before court. The honourable court also noted that the charges against the three accused FUFA officials were inconsistent in law because FUFA wasn’t a public body. FUFA is a private entity limited by guarantee and as such, the three accused persons were not public officers within the meaning of the law.

    SOS have always come out openly to express their interests in dragging Mulindwa to Luzira prison but this is the fourth court case the selfish group is losing in courts of law including the one against former FUFA president, the late Denis Obua. Mbidde Denis who filed the case run out of the court chambers before the final ruling after detecting likely embarrassment from the football fans who watched the proceedings. Aldrine Nsubuga and Fred Muwema did not even show up.

    Happy man: Edgar Watson

    The Magistrate further ruled that the lawyers representing SOS had not obtained the mandatory permission from court before commencing with the private commercial prosecutions. And in absence of such permission, they were improperly before the court. She said, the complainant, Dennis Mbidde was an alien to FUFA since he was neither a member of FUFA nor a delegate. In this background, all the information he gave before court was hearsay and he couldn’t even prove the source of his information. Upon cross examination of the complainant (Mbidde Denis), he appeared contradictory of his sources of information.

    All the above illegalities affected the validity of the case rendering the proceedings null and void. Court therefore dismissed the charges and cancelled the criminal summons earlier issued. FUFA was represented in court by lawyers Evans Ochieng, Alex Luganda and Ronald Bogezi. (Rogers Mulindwa, Head of communications-FUFA)

  • 11 USL clubs show compliance to FUFA

    CP Bazir Mugisha

     

     

     

     

     

    Eleven out of the sixteen Super division clubs on Thursday afternoon unanimously resolved to observe the rules governing association football and vowed never again to play the games organized by the sanctioned USL officials.


    The clubs also instituted a temporally six man management committee to re-organise the affairs of the league within a period of less than 14 days. The committee has Isaac Jurugo a professional lawyer from Simba SC, Tamale David (KCC), Eng Dan Kyobe (Water FC), Haruna Kyobe (Bunamwaya), Bakabulindi William (Proline FC) and Magezi Rubaale a Director of Finance from URA.

    The resolutions were made during a meeting called by FUFA at Mengo and attended by owners/ representatives of clubs compliant with association football rules. The participating members included Hon. Vincent Sempijja, Yiga George (Masaka LC FC), Kitandwe Tadeus, Haruna Kyobe (Bunamwaya), Kabuye Ahamed, Tamale David (KCC), Kiwalabye Emmanuel, Ssempijja Asuman (Victors FC) and Issac Jurugo from Simba SC.

    Police FC was represented by the Commissioner of Police Bazir Mugisha while URA’s Director of Finance Magezi Rubaale was also in attendance. Others were Maende Eddy (Hoima-Busia), Bakabulindi William (Proline FC) and Salim Saleh from BIDCO FC. Water FC were absent with apologies and accepted to serve under the new arrangement. The meeting was chaired by the Federation CEO, Edgar Watson and attended by three FUFA Vice Presidents who included Eng. Moses Magogo (administration), Mujib Kasule (in charge USL) and Chris Kalibbala (Women football).

    The clubs further resolved to include Hoima-Busia in the new fixtures. The league according to the meeting will be continuous from the already played games but exclusive of the first three games and all the second round games played under non acceptable referees. The committee will soon hire an office to embark on serious work.

    The club officials elected Hon. Vincent Ssempijja (Masaka LC) and Tadeus Kitandwa (Bunamwaya) to represent them on the Jinja Declaration Committee (JDC). The committee was asked to align the clubs in accordance with the Jinja Declaration. KCC, Bunamwaya and Proline who were part of the seven directors of USL agreed to withdraw their membership immediately. FUFA withdrew the mandate ofv running the super division league from USLL onj Wednesday following continued defiance from the board.

    (Rogers Mulindwa, Head of Communications-FUFA)

  • FUFA CEO Edgar Watson communicated the Excom decision to the clubs

    FUFA in consideration of Article 16 (1) and 57 of the FUFA Constitution and article 18 (1) of the FIFA statutes, granted the Uganda Super League Ltd (USLL) the authority to run the Super division League (The Uganda National Top League)

    FUFA communicated to USLL and Uganda Super League clubs the decision of the FUFA Disciplinary Committee, directed that USLL and the clubs do not make any sporting, administrative or any other contacts with the sanctioned officials.

    Furthermore, the FUFA Executive Committee suspended the Uganda Super League (USL) matches on 19th January 2012. (Ref. No FUFA/USL/19/01/12) upon defiance of the sanctioned officials. However some USL clubs have defied the FUFA directive and continued to play in matches officiated by unqualified referees and organized by sanctioned officials.

    The FUFA General assembly of 2011 in Fort portal empowered the FUFA Executive to evoke Article 57 (7 i and ii) of the FUFA Constitution if USLL officials and/or clubs continue to violate association football rules.

    FUFA is cognizant of the efforts by some clubs to return normalcy at USL but the continued defiance by the sanctioned officials to perform duties of USLL is further violation of association football rules. It is therefore upon the above background that the FUFA Executive withdraws the mandate from USLL to run the Uganda National football top league with immediate effect.

    The Jinja Declaration Committee (JDC) is hereby required to convene clubs that are willing to be compliant with association football and compose a corporate body in accordance with the Jinja Declaration. The new body should ensure that the acceptable interests of the sponsors are well protected. The JDC will henceforth guide the progress in this regard with immediate effect.

    The withdraw communication signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edgar Watson Suubi has been copied to the FIFA General Secretary, the CAF General Secretary, FIFA Development officer in charge of this zone, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, the Minister of education and sports and the state minister for sports. Others include the General Secretary of National Council of sports, all FUFA member associations and the chairman Jinja Declaration Committee. (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications-FUFA)

  • Bell-Uganda Cup: Simba in early exit

    Simba 0 (3) Victoria 0 (4)

    Utoda 2 Kiryantete 0

    Katabi FC 0 (1) Police 0 (3)

    Namasagali 1 Victors 3

    Misindye 1 Kirinnya 0

    Entebbe 0 Wembley 1

    URA 3 Sadolin FC 0

    Rising Stars 1 Bunamwaya 4

    FUFA and Bell official at the draws of the 2012 Bell-Uganda cup held at Ivys Hotel last month

    Bell Uganda cup defending champions, SC Simba were on Tuesday showed an early exit from this year’s tournament by Victoria University FC, a first division league team from Wakiso district.

    The normal time ended goalless forcing the referee to throw the game into spot kicks. Simba lost 4-3 and they will live to blame their two star players Sula Ssebbunza and Swaib Ssebalu who failed to convert their chances. Simba entered the pitch with all the advantages including a home ground but the visitors registered a memorable record away at Bombo barracks.

    Else where, Victors FC defeated Namasagali 3-0 and Bunamwaya walloped Rising Stars 4-1 in Aduku. Another Super Division team Police  FC beat Katabi FC 3-1 on spot kicks, Misindye edged Kirinnya 1-0, Entebbe lost 0-1 to Wembley, Utoda won 2-0 against Kiryanteete while URA out smarted Sadolin with a humiliating 3-0 win. Augustine Nsumba, Benson Ociti and Robert Ssentongo scored for their side.

    Meanwhile SC Villa advanced to the next round after Kwania FC failed to show up in Nakivubo.

     

  • Death robs FUFA of a committed referee

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations regrets to announce the death of one of our referees, Ssebunya David who passed on this Monday morning from Mulago hospital. He has been in service since 1997.

    Ssebunya 29, was part of the referees who underwent the fitness test on Friday at Mandela National Stadium-Namboole. Official records at Mengo indicate that the deceased completed all the six sprints that cover 240 meters in total. His best sprint was recorded at 5 seconds and 92 micro seconds. The results for all the six sprints were 5.92, 5.96, 6.07, 6.06, 6.11 and 6.13.

    He later embarked on the twelve laps in an exercise that was supervised by retired FIFA referee Mohammed Ssegonga. He looked very fit and determined to complete the dozen laps but unfortunately, with just one lap to an end, he leaped off the lane! He was shortly taken to the nearby clinic but later discharged. He reportedly returned home and there were signs of quick recovery.

    His death took us by surprise this morning because we had reports that he was getting better. According to family sources, Ssebunya’s condition worsened Sunday night and was rushed to Mulago hospital from where he took his last breathe. By press time, the federation had not received details of his death. The body was still lying in the mortuary as we waited waited for a postmortem report.

    As FUFa, we have lost a committed young referee and we send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and the entire sports family. The Federation will join the family for a descent send off. Burial details will be communicated later but scanty information indicates that he will be laid to rest this Tuesday, 2:00pm at Nabusugwe in Namugongo. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

     

     

     

    ROGERS MULINDWA

    HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, FUFA

  • Women coaching course closes, FIFA instructor impressed

    World Football Governing body, FIFA coaching instructor Roman Hangarter has hailed Ugandan women for an impressive knowledge they have about the game of football.

    Hangarter made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the seven day coaching course for women at Mandela National Stadium- Namboole on Saturday, January 28. “It has been a good class. They had very impressive knowledge about football…it’s a rare quality among some women elsewhere” said the FIFA Instructor from Switzerland.

    FUFA Vice president in charge of women football, Chris Kalibbala urged participants to put more emphasis on young girls for training. He also commended FUFA for identifying the women sector for this coaching course. A total of 28 women coaches attended this course. Hangarter returns home this Sunday evening

  • Kayunga to host Buganda meet

    President Lawrence Mulindwa will travel to Kayunga on Jan 28 to meet all delegates from Buganda Region

    FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa will on Saturday January 28 meet all delegates from Buganda region as part of his routine visits to the lower football administrative units.

    According to the President’s personal assistant and former Cranes Captain, Jimmy Kirunda, the meeting will be held in Kayunga district.

    Buganda Regional head and chairman of the hosting zone 13, Joseph Mwanje confirmed to www.fufa.co.ug that all the necessary arrangements had been finalised to receive the President on that day. “We are set and everybody is excited to receive him”, Mwanje remarked.

    Buganda region has a total of 36 delegates who will convene in Kayunga on that day. The President is expected to travel with one of his Vice Presidents. Delegates have been urged to observe time as the president will have another afternoon program in Kampala.

  • Cranes’ Mawejje on the move to South Africa

    Cranes Midfielder Tonny Mawejje has past medical tests at Golden Arrow FC, a first division club in South Africa.

    Mawejje, an instrumental player in the Uganda squad for the last three campaigns of the African cup of Nations will soon sign a two year contract according to the Kickoff Newspaper in South Africa.

    His success makes him join the likes of Posnet Omonyi, Timothy Batabaire, Geoffrey  Sserunkuma and Denis Onyango who play in the same league.

    From IBV- Iceland, Mawejje believes signing for a South African club would give the Cranes’ Coach Bobby Williamson a chance to easily monitor his performance in preparation for the next African Cup of Nations Campaign. Uganda opens the campaign against Congo in Brazzaville on February 29.

    Mawejje’s  impressive carrier started from Masaka Local Council, KCC FC, Police FC and URA FC before leaving for IBV in Iceland. “This is not my final destination. I want to get more exposure here and win cups before realizing my dream of playing in some big leagues in the world”Tonny Mawejje is quoted to have said. (Story compiled by Kenneth Muwanga)

     

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  • Uganda now ranks 18th best in Africa

    Ugandan FA President, Lawrence Mulindwa has pushed Uganda to the best position ever on the continent

    Uganda has climbed 7 places upwards in the January FIFA Coca cola gradings to rank 82nd in the entire world of 208 member countries.

    Uganda with 411 points also emerges the best ranked country among all the ten member associations that constitute the Council of East and Central Africa (Cecafa). The previous rankings had put Uganda at 89th position. Rwanda is ranked second best in the region with 304 points, indicating a difference of 97 points between the two footballing nations.

    The Uganda Cranes beat Rwanda in the finals to lift the Cecafa-Tusker challenge Cup in Dar es Salaam on December 10 last year. The rankings further put Uganda in the 18th position in Africa with Cote d’Ivoire (889) topping the continental list followed by Ghana (779), Algeria (734), Egypt (698), Senegal (625) and Nigeria with 612 points. Cameroon and South Africa tie in the 56th position in the world rankings with 551 points and are 7th in Africa.

    Uganda (82nd) beats Angola (85th) by 6 points and better than Gabon (91st), the hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Uganda and Angola will again have to face each other in the World Cup qualifiers. Sudan, the only nation within the Cecafa region taking part in the CAN finals is third best in the region with 265 points. This is 146 points behind Uganda.

    Kenya is in the 121st position with only 260 points; Ethiopia has 230 points in the 133rd place while Tanzania follows in the 137th place with 225 points. Others are Burundi (199 points), Eritrea (45), Somalia (43) and Djibouti which maintains the 198th position in the world with only 23 points.

    (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)

  • Gulu United dismissed from Big League

    Proline's Andrew Buteera and URA's Steven Bengo in a Super Division League action. Gulu United has now made its journey into the Super Division League longer by getting dismissed from the Big League

    The National football body acting through its Competitions committee has thrown Gulu United FC out of the Big League for failing to honour three fixtures, an act that contravened section G (7) and G (10) of the rules governing this tournament.

    Gulu United which now gets relegated to the first Division League of Gulu DFA has also lost its Big League slot in the Bell Uganda Cup to Kampala region. According to the referee’s reports, Gulu United failed to show up for their match against Misindye, Victoria University and Aurum Roses. The committee secretary Decolas Kiiza says the team was given 48 hours to defend themselves but no satisfactory explanations had since been received by FCC.

    FUFA Big League rules Section G (7) states; ‘A club failing to turn up for a league match shall submit a written explanation to the FCC within 48 hours from the date of the match’. In addition, section G (10) reads: ‘If such explanation is not accepted, the defaulting club shall lose the match by forfeiture and shall be docked three (3) points and three (3) goals from those already accumulated in an event that the defaulting club is an away club’.

    Section G (11) however further reads: ‘If a club defaults any or a combination of rules G (7) and G (10) for three matches in a season, such club shall be dismissed from the League’. In such circumstances, FCC resolved to dismiss Gulu United from the Big League.

    The fact that Gulu had played less than 50% of the League by the time of dismissal, all matches in which they were involved are nullified. Gulu United played six out of nine first round matches.  Kiiza further clarified that Rwenzori group to which Gulu belonged will however still have to lose two bottom teams to the Regional League at the end of the season. (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)

  • FUFA summons Kabenge, Segawa

    Enough is enough: CEO Edgar Watson issued the summons

    The FUFA Disciplinary committee has summoned Uganda Super League Board Chairman Kavuma Julius Kabenge and the Chief Executive Officer Ebil Ssegawa Jimmy to appear before the committee on January 13 on charges related to the contravention of the rules governing association football.

    In a communication by the Federation CEO Edgar Watson to the accused, he quoted the Disciplinary Committee’s first case number as DC/30112/003.  The two in their official positions at USL will face the committee at 4:00pm.  They are accused of failure to follow the Uganda Super League Ltd Memorandum and Articles of Association.  They have also failed to comply and implement FUFA rules inclusive of statutes, regulations, decisions and directives of FUFA, CAF and FIFA.

    Trapped: Kavuma Kabenge

    In another separate summon, Kavuma Kabenge under case number DC/30112/001 faces three other charges. He failed to comply with FUFA rules, put the game of association football into disrepute by his actions and communications and taking matters of interpretation and application of FUFA rules to ordinary court of law. He will therefore have to defend himself on this matter first at 2:00pm before re-appearing at 4:00pm over a second case.

    Ebil Ssegawa will also have to appear before the committee earlier at 3:00pm on individual charges (DC/30112/002) of failure to comply with the FUFA rules and putting the game of association football into disrepute by his actions and communications.

    The Disciplinary committee will proceed with the case and take decisions based on the information in its possession if the accused fail to show up on the date and time officially communicated to them.

    Hard times: Jimmy Segawa

    The committee comprises renowned lawyers within and outside Kampala. The committee is chaired by Ojuk Odur Geoffrey with Balondemu Daudi as his vice. Nyonyintono Asuman Mulawa is the committee secretary while Kasalirwe Dirisa and Jacob Lubega are members.

    (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)

  • 2011: A year of mixed fortunes-FUFA President

     

    FUFA President, Lawrence Mulindwa says despite the unfortunate Uganda's failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, a lot has been achieved and strategies have been laid to register more success in 2012.

    Fellow Ugandans, Let me begin by thanking the Almighty God for bringing us this close to another New Year. I hope we all had a wonderful Christmas.

    FUFA pays its respect to all our departed colleagues. May their Souls Rest In Eternal Peace! As we come to the end of 2011, I wish to thank all of you for the immeasurable support you have given to FUFA. The year 2011 has been a year of mixed fortunes at FUFA.

    Achievements:

    FIFA Devpt Officer Ashford Mamelodi at Njeru Technical Centre mid December 2011. Mamelodi was impressed with the work done under the FUFA supervision

    • Njeru Technical Centre: FUFA completed the construction of the Njeru Technical Centre. The FIFA Development Officer for Africa, Ashford Mamelodi was impressed by the work done by my administration on this project.

      FIFA Devpt officer Ashford Mamelodi at Njeru for the final inspection on the Technical centre
    • U-23 Maputo: Uganda was represented at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique by our U-23 team.
    • International tournaments: Uganda featured in international tournaments like CHAN, Nile Basin Championship and the LG Cup in Morocco.
    • CECAFA: Uganda won a record 12th CECAFA title. Our Cranes team defied all odds and beat rivals Rwanda 3-2 on penalties after normal play had ended 2-2 in Dar-es Salaam.

      FUFA President consults his executive members during a retyreat at Entebbe in October
    • Administration, Finance and Communication: My administration reconstituted FUFA by bringing in more administrators to bolster football development in Uganda. New Standing committees were named. Several administrative and beach soccer courses were held to enhance the proper running of the game. We have continued to practice transparency and accountability at all levels which has won admiration of our local and international partners.  Our website www.fufa.co.ug continues to run smoothly and offers regular news of all FUFA activities. I encourage everyone out there to regularly visit this website.
    • Referees:  FUFA ensured that several referee courses were held to improve refereeing standards. Several refresher courses have been conducted throughout the country.
    • Coaches:  We have encouraged more coaches to take up national and international assignments. Courses have been held to improve the level of coaching and more will be held.

      Mujib Kasule (right) shares a happy moment with the FA President. Mujib was appointed new VP in charge of USL in November this year.
    • Uganda Super League: FUFA appointed Mr. Mujib Kasule as Vice President in charge of USL to streamline the proper running of the league and to ensure that the Jinja Declaration is adhered to by all stakeholders.
    • Sponsorship: We thank our sponsors MTN, Bell, NIC, Nile Breweries Ltd, Coca Cola, City Tyres, the government, and everyone who contributed towards our activities in 2011.
    • The Cranes: The national team has drawn alot of support from all quarters. We recorded a record turn out during the Angola, Guinea Bissau and Kenya AFCON 2012 games at Namboole Stadium. We thank our fans for the tremendous support.
    • Youth Football: Youth football continued to flourish under my administration. Uganda also impressed at the East African Secondary Schools Championships in Mbarara, with two Ugandan teams Kibuli SS and St Mary’s Kitende, reaching the finals. Setting up youth structures at all levels has been our priority. School games teachers were also trained.

      Crested Cranes Head Coach, Majda Nantanda giving instructions to her players shortly before they left for Egypt for the international friendly matches. Looking on is Lisa Berg from USA
    • Women’s football: FUFA continued to promote women football. A number of teams took part in this year’s FUFA Women Inter Regional Championship held in Fort portal. Lisa Berg, a woman Football technical consultant from USA is in the country to assist in the development of women football.  Our national team played two international friendly matches against Egypt in Cairo this December.

      Kampala Region Captain Bonny Baingana receives a trophy from the FUFA president in Tororo. Baingana now features for Express FC
    • FUFA- MTN Inter Regional Championship: FUFA held the MTN Inter Regional Championship in Tororo. This championship helps the federation technical team to tap raw talent. Current Super League prominent players like Bonny Baingana and Musa Mukasa (Express FC) and Goal Keeper Jamal Salim among others were identified from our last inter regional competitions in Tororo.

    Plan for the year ahead 2012

    • Cranes World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers: Cranes will take part in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. We are in the same group with Angola, Senegal and Liberia in the world Cup qualifiers. Cranes will meet Congo Brazzaville away on February 29, 2012 in the Nations Cup qualifiers. The main challenge is funding.

      The Cranes team that lifted the 2011 Cecafa Tusker Cup in Dar es salaam
    • Youth Football: FUFA will continue to promote youth football by encouraging more teams to take part in youth tournaments like the COPA Coca Cola championship, the U-15 S1/S2 FUFA championship, U-16 Shell Championship and U-14 City Tyres Championship.
    • Women football: The Crested Cranes will host Congo in the African Cup of Nations Women qualifiers on January14 at Nakivubo Stadium. I encourage Ugandans to come in big numbers and cheer our team.
    • Njeru Technical Centre: We will soon officially open the Njeru Technical Centre. We thank FIFA, through our Regional Development Officer Ashford, for financing this project.

      President Yoweri Museveni visited the Cranes camp in October and he later promised to continue support the FUFA efforts of lifting our soccer to another level
    • Monitoring potential Cranes players: In a bid to strengthen our national team, FUFA is running an aggressive campaign of monitoring potential Cranes players locally and internationally. We will give these players a chance to feature for Cranes and in other national youth teams.
    • Marketing and sponsorship: FUFA will seek more sponsors for all our activities. Companies, individuals and government will be sought to support our national teams, Beach soccer, technical development, youth development and women football.
    • Administration and Communication: My administration will ensure that our local administrators continue to get international exposure through organising administrative courses. FUFA will seek more sponsors for our website to make it more attractive and widely visited.
    • Media symposium: FUFA, in conjunction with CAF and FIFA, will organise a Media Symposium in Kampala aimed at improving the standards of football reporting.

      Uganda has participated in a number of tournaments this year. The picture above shows Coach Bobby shortly after return Egypt for the Nile Basin Cup. Uganda finished second
    • Uganda Super League: FUFA will engage FIFA and CAF instructors to train our local club administrators on acceptable management standards. Many clubs are being run down due to inefficiency in administration.
    • International tournaments: Uganda will continue to feature in international tournaments to expose our players more on the international scene.

    Conclusion

    FUFA would like to thank the government, the State Minister for Sports Hon. Charles Bakabulindi, our sponsors, media and all our fans for the support you have accorded to the federation in the past year.

    We assure Ugandans that we are still very committed to the development of football in Uganda. Discipline of players, officials and all other members of FUFA will be paramount. FUFA will not tolerate indiscipline and violation of the Constitution and FIFA Statutes.

    I once again wish you a happy New Year.

    Live it Love it.

    Lawrence Mulindwa

    FUFA PRESIDENT

  • Njeru Technical Centre very impressive-FIFA

    FIFA Development Officer Ashford Mamelodi being conducted around Njeru Technical Centre.

    “I am very satisfied, satisfied indeed. It’s a good work done” FIFA Development officer Ashford Mamelodi commented shortly after he had inspected Njeru Technical Centre on Wednesday morning.

    Mamelodi who is in the country on his routine visit had travelled to Njeru to assess the progress at the Technical Centre soon nearing total completion. He was in company of the Vice President in charge of Technical matters Livingstone Kyambadde and the CEO, Edgar Watson Suubi.

    The FIFA Development officer urged the federation to put the project to proper use in order to benefit the game of football. Mamelodi was conducted around the centre in presence of both the electronic and print media. They included both local and international journalists among whom, was the Super Sport crew.

    Mamelodi reacting to questions from the journalists at Njeru Technical Centre on December 14. Extreme right is FUFA CEO Edgar Watson Suubi

    Mamelodi commended both the contractors and the consultancy firm for the commendable job done.  He said this was one of the best Technical centres in the world.  The centre has a hostel that accommodates 45 people, a conference hall, and an artificial turf among other facilities. When asked whether, FIFA president Joseph Blatter would be here to officially open it, Mamelodi was non committal but promised to discuss the matter with him. “The FIFA President operates under a tight program. I shall put the request to him and if he doesn’t come, I am sure he will be well represented” Mamelodi responded to one of the questions from the journalists.

    In his communication, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson said the office of the Technical Director would shift from Mengo to Njeru shortly after the end of year festive season. He added that Njeru would mainly benefit the underage teams.

    (By Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)