FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

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  • Afcon draws: Bobby says ‘its a mission possible’

    Cranes Manager Bobby Williamson is optimistic that Uganda can advance to the finals if there is team work.

    Zambia is a proven team at this level with a coach who is a champion too. I personally have respect for their FA President, the coach and their players. What they achieved in winning last year’s continental trophy was magnificent and everyone should recognize and respect them for being a footballing Nation.

    For the Cranes however, this is a challenge we will relish. To qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations has always not been easy for us and it’s a long time coming. In my opinion this is a great opportunity. In no way am I being disrespectful to Zambia.

    But for us to qualify this year, we need to beat the best team on this continent. Uganda is capable of ending the long wait and this will require a collective effort so that we pull in one direction. FUFA, the government, the press and the entire population of Uganda should stand united towards this goal.

    Those with differences should put them aside for the sake of our team’s performance. It’s important that we are playing our first leg away in Lusaka. I believe this is to our advantage no matter what happens from the first leg. What we need to keep in perspective is that this ‘race’ won’t be won or lost in Lusaka but instead in Kampala. It can be us this time, believe me!

  • Uganda 9 places up in FIFA rankings

    The Cranes good performance against Angola, Senegal and Congo has paid off

    The Cranes’ recent performance against Congo Brazzaville and Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup qualifiers respectively has earned Uganda a better position in the World FIFA rankings.

    Uganda is now ranked 85th (409 points) in the whole world of footballing nations. To click this position, Uganda climbed 9 places up from the 93rd position of last month. The performance was partly based on the Cranes recent 4-0 humiliating defeat against Congo and the 1-all draw against Senegal among others.

    Just below Uganda is Angola with 407 points followed by Burkina Faso in the 87th position. Uganda remains the giants in the Cecafa region with Sudan coming next in the 105th position and Ethiopia in the 119th place. Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania are ranked 125th, 126th and 127th respectively followed by Burundi who are 136th.

    Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti are the worst performers in the region with less than 50 points. Djibouti in the 196th position has only 24 points, Somalia 43 points and Eritrea 45 points only.

    Meanwhile Spain maintains the lead followed by Germany, Uruguay, England, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, Brazil, Greece, Russia and France. Bhutan, Montserrat, San Marino and Turks and Caicos Islands are the world’s worst ranked countries with zero points each.

     

  • URA drawn against Simba in Cecafa tourney

    Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been invited to take part in the CECAFA-Kagame Club Cup Championship that kicks off in Dar es salaam City on July 14th to 28th this year.

    A total of 11 clubs will contest the two week championship that will be shown live by Supersport in over 48 African countries. In the fixture released by the Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, Uganda’s representatives URA FC is placed in group ‘C’ alongside Tanzania’s Simba SC, Ports FC from Djibouti and guests Vita FC from DR Congo.

    The other clubs taking part in the championship include defending champions Yanga SC, Azam from Tanzania, Kenya’s Tusker FC, APR from Rwanda, Atletico (Burundi), Mafunzo (Zanzibar) and Wau Salam from South Sudan. According to the well attended draws in Dar es Salaam, defending champions Yanga FC will open the championship against Burundi’s Atletico on Saturday 14th July.

    Speaking shortly after the draws, Musonye said, the long term objective of CECAFAwas to make Kagame Club Cup one of the biggest club football competitions in Africa. “With enough sponsorship next year, we may increase the number to 16 following growing interest from clubs across the continent” he added.

    The CECAFA patron His Excellency President Paul Kagame has already committed USD 60,000 prize money which will be shared among the top three finishers. Vita Club is one of the oldest and popular clubs in DRC expected to colour up the tournament. The Congolese club was among four others that had requested to take part in the event.

    In response to the vision of President Kagame, CECAFA wishes to use the power of football to promote Peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region and in the Horn of Africa.

     

  • FUFA’s letter of appreciation to USPA

    Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa scored the opener against Congo in Namboole. The 4-0 win was key in earning the Cranes the USPA Award for the month of June.

    The Nile Special-USPA Awards for the month of June conducted here in Kampala on Monday saw the Uganda Cranes emerging overall winners with 545 votes.

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) was delighted to receive this news that came in just two days to the draws of the final round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in South Africa on Thursday.

    This award will not only boost the team’s performance in our next competitive engagements but it’s also evident that USPA members do follow the Cranes’ activities with keen interest.

    Around this time, the Cranes team needs undivided support if we are to break through the rock of misfortune that has stood in our way for 34 years. Professional journalism will be key in this campaign and your Monday gesture points in this very positive direction.

    Allow me on behalf of FUFA, extend our most sincere appreciations to you Mr. President and to all USPA members for this timely award.

    Finally, I call upon the entire USPA family to remain focused to the same cause.

    WE GO, WE GO, UGANDA CRANES WE GO!

  • FIFA Com-Unity Course postponed

    FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson is in touch with FIFA on Com-Unity course.

    FUFA is hereby informing all stakeholders and more particularly members of the media who had been invited for the above workshop that it has been postponed from the earlier communicated dates of 10th-13th July 2012.

    We regret all the inconveniences caused however the technical program and the presenters will remain in the format planned earlier.

    The CEO, Edgar Watson said the future date will be communicated to all concerned parties on time.

  • Referee Diana Mukasa for U-17 World Cup

    There is a reason to smile: FIFA assistant referee Diana Mukasa has landed an invitation to FIFA U17 World Cup.

    Ugandan FIFA woman referee Diana Mukasa has landed an invitation to officiate at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    Mukasa is one of the only three referees appointed from the entire African continent. Others from the CAF region are Amegee Aissata 37, from Togo and Aglago Emmanuella 33 from Ghana.

    The list has 14 referees and 28 assistants in total but three of these (one referee and two assistants) are a reserve trio from UEFA.

    An official communication received from FIFA this morning and signed by the Secretary General Jerome Valckle, indicates that the competition matches will run from 22nd September to 13th October. But prior to this, the pre-competition activities will be conducted from September 16 to 21.

    All match officials including Mukasa are expected to arrive in Baku on Sunday 16 September 2012. FIFA has warned that no match official is supposed to be accompanied by any other person during their entire assignment with FIFA.

    FIFA has further directed that all referees and their assistants undergo medical assessments from their respective home countries in accordance with the FIFA Pre-Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) Form. If a referee is found to be unfit or injured upon her arrival in Baku, FIFA will send her home at the expense of the concerned member association.

    Mukasa becomes the second Uganda referee after Ali Tomusange to officiate at the World Cup tournaments.

  • FIFA officials coming to Uganda

    This is to inform all football stakeholders and the entire public that a panel of officials delegated by FIFA will be in the country for a meeting with FUFA and the Uganda Super League clubs on Wednesday 27th June 2012 at Golf Course hotel.

    The meetings will generally focus on governance issues of football in Uganda. However, the FIFA-FUFA meeting to be held earlier at 8:30am will also address the FUFA Executive committee proposals for FUFA Constitutional amendments.

    At the same venue, the FIFA panel will henceforth from 11am meet the decision makers of the Uganda Super League clubs with an agenda focused on issues pertaining to top level professional league in compliance with Association Football.

    Invitations for Super League Club top management leaders have been dispatched accordingly.

    There will also be a press conference scheduled for Thursday 28th June 2012 at 9:30am prompt at Golf Course Hotel for media briefing on the situation as per that time. (Please note that the weekly press conference usually held on Wednesdays has therefore been called off this week).

    The FIFA panel coming to Uganda will among other officials include Mr. Primo Corvaro and the FIFA Development Officer Mr. Mamelodi Ashford.



  • FUFA rewads Cranes with UGX 70m for dumping Congo

    Ugandan FA has rewarded the victorious Cranes team with a cash bonus of 70 million shillings (About US $ 30.000) for dumping Congo Brazzaville from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.

    The Federation President Lawrence Mulindwa handed over the money to the team captain Andy Mwesigwa from Sojovaro Hotel in Mengo on Sunday afternoon.  The players together with the technical staff were later hosted to a congratulatory luncheon organised by the federation.

    Mulindwa lashed out at critics who accuse him of spending a lot of money on players’ bonuses saying that ‘the boys have to be rewarded for their sweat’. Days to the Cranes; game against Senegal, FUFA cashed the players with 30m as motivation before adding them 40 more millions after the 1-all draw. A total of Shs.140m has so far been spent on bonuses alone. (The figures exclude daily allowances and other costs).

    Each of the 18 players who featured against Congo received Shs.2.500.000. Mulindwa pledged more financial rewards towards the players whenever they produce results. He hailed the fans for showing up in big numbers at Namboole and praised his technical bench headed by Bobby Williamson for guiding the team to a convincing 4-0 victory over Congo.

    The function was attended by Kimuli Anthony and Livingstone Kyambadde the Vice Presidents in charge of Finance and Technical matters respectively. The Federation CEO Edgar Watson was also present at the function.

  • Flying Cranes dump visiting Congo

    The Uganda Cranes entered the pitch on Saturday afternoon with a task to score two unanswered goals against Congo in order to storm the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 qualifiers but proved more determined when they doubled the score to end the game 4-0!

    Team Captain Andy Mwesigwa headed the opener in the first half before Godfrey Walusimbi converted a penalty in the early minutes of the second half. Geoffrey Massa went down in history when he took a heavy shot from the right flank that left the goal net torn. Emmanuel Okwi wound up the mission with a fourth goal that saw the Congolese technical bench filled in tears.

    Cranes had lost 3-1 in Brazzaville in February.  Uganda will now wait to play two home and away matches against one of the 16 Nations that played in the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

  • FUFA, Namboole reach consesus

    Consesus reached and Namboole stadium will now host the Saturday World Cup Match against Senegal

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations and the management of Mandela National Stadium have this evening reached a consensus to host the Cranes World Cup fixture against Senegal on Saturday.

    The two parties reached an agreement in a meeting held at Namboole this evening. FUFA will now have to part with 45m UGX to hire the facility from the stadium management. Namboole had earlier asked for 84m UGX but later revised upwards to 97m UGX before the evening meeting between the two parties.

    The public is hereby assured that the match will now go on and that the tickets will now be on market starting Thursday morning.

    FUFA would like to appreciate the spirit exhibited by the Namboole stadium management in the meeting today and all individuals that have been of importance in our negotiations.

    The joint efforts have seen football emerging winners of these negotiations and not individuals, FUFA or Nambool

  • Determined Cranes returns Tuesday

    Denis Onyango and the rest of the players return to Kampala on Tuesday evening

    Determined Uganda Cranes team returns to Kampala on Tuesday evening and will resume training the following morning.

    The players that forced Angola to a 1-all draw are expected to touch Entebbe International Airport at 07:05 pm.

    Meanwhile the thirteen players who remained in Kampala resume training this morning at Namboole stadium under the captaincy of Geoffrey Massa.

    Assistant Coach Leo Adra will be in control of the team as he awaits the arrival of his senior, Bobby Williamson to take charge on Wednesday morning. There will be no time to rest for both the officials and the players but be driven direct to camp on arrival at the airport.

    The players in camp include Geoffrey Massa, Brian Umony, Isaac Isinde, Mudde Musa, Sula Matovu, Ochaya Joseph, Abel Dhaira, Edward Ssali, Joseph Owino, Yasin Mugabi, Ali Kimera, Robert Ssentongo and Ceaser Okhuti.

  • Classic Cranes forces Angola into a draw

    Emmanuel Okwi scored Uganda's crucial away goal in Luanda on Sunday

    Emmanuel Okwi scored a crucial second half equalizer for the Uganda Cranes against hosts Angola in Luanda Sunday evening to earn Uganda a vital point in their first World Cup Qualifiers match. The game ended 1-1.

    Okwi also becomes the first Cranes player to score a goal against Angola National team away in Luanda within the past 17 years. Uganda’s last away goal in Angola had been scored by Robert Kizito in 1996.

    Like Uganda, Ethiopia was the other Cecafa Region Member country that picked a crucial point away from home. Ethiopia played South Africa to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg City. Tanzania lost 2-0 in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Neighbours Kenya were held to a goalless draw by visiting Malawi while Sudan edged 2012 Afcon Champions Zambia 2-0 in Khartoum.

    Full Results on the Continent:

     Angola 1 Uganda 1

    Nigeria 1 Namibia 0

    Benin 1 Mali 0

    South Africa 1 Ethiopia 1

    Zimbabwe 0 Guinea 1

    Burkina Faso 0 Congo 0

    Senegal 3 Liberia 1

    Sudan 2 Zambia 0

    Tunisia 3 Equatorial Guinea 1

    Cote D’Ivoire 2 Tanzania 0

    Kenya 0 Malawi 0

    Ghana 7 Lesotho 0

    Gambia 1 Morocco 1

    Egypt 2 Mozambique 0

    Cameroon 1 DR Congo 0

    Central African Republic 2 Botswana 0

  • Determined Cranes lands safely in Luanda

    Fabian Kizito

    The Cranes team touched Angola at 10:15am (about 12:15 local time) with all the players and officials aboard the Kenya Airways reportedly in good health.

    Leader of delegation Sam Mpima was at the airport to receive them. The team was later driven to Mana-Lu Hotel where they were officially booked.

    This is the third time the Cranes team is playing Angola in Luanda since 2008. Four of the players who include Captain Andrew Mwesigwa, Mike Sserumaga, Dan Wagaluka and Masaba Simeon have played against the hosts in all matches.

    The same players plus Johnson Bagoole were however part of the team that forced a crucial goalless draw in Luanda on 23rd June 2008 during the World Cup Qualifiers match. Martin Kayongo Mutumba and Fabian Derrick Kizito stepped their first feet on the Angolan soil ready to write history.

    In total, the two nations have met four times in the last four years with Uganda wining twice at home and drawing once away. This puts Uganda in an advantaged position with 7 points and 6 goals from the four matches so far played against the hosts.  On 14th June 2008, the determined Cranes beat Angola 3-1 in Namboole before another humiliating 3-0 defeat on the same ground on 4th September 2010.

    The biggest win Angola has ever registered over Uganda within this period was a 2-0 win on 4th September 2011. Angola trails in this group of two nations with 4 points and only 3 goals from the four matches so far played. Kickoff is 4:00pm (6: pm Ugandan local time) on Sunday.  Who takes the day is all what we wait to see, in our favour!  

    Fabian Kizito is in Angola the first time

  • Facilities ready for Cranes in Angola

    Mpima Samuel is already in Angola to ensure a warm reception to our team

    When the Cranes contingent touches down at Angola International Airport on Friday afternoon they will feel at home with an expected warm welcome from our advanced party already in Luanda.

    Mpima Samuel, the leader of delegation who travelled to Luanda on Monday has confirmed that all was set to receive the team. The team will be accommodated at Mana-Lu Four stars Hotel with all the facilities necessary for the players in place.

    Estadio 22 De Juhno just adjacent the Hotel is the confirmed training ground for the Cranes. Our official on the ground has also taken trouble to discuss the menu details with the Hotel Management to avoid any short comings in feeding.

    Mpima together with the Angola Federation officials will be at the airport hours before the team lands.

    Meanwhile the thirteen remaining players who have not made it to Angola will be maintained in camp until the travelling team returns. Arrangements have been made for them to continue training under the command of the newly appointed assistant Coach Leo Adra in order to keep improving on their fitness levels.

    These include Geoffrey Massa, Brian Umony, Isaac Isinde, Mudde Musa, Sula Matovu, Ochaya, Abel Dhaira, Edward Ssali, Joseph Owino, Yasin Mugabi, Ali Kimera, Robert Ssentongo and Ceaser Okhuti. Bobby said all players were still very useful in this campaign and asked those staying to keep focussed.

  • Bobby Names final squad to ‘combat’ Angola

    Martin Kayongo Mutumba is Looking up for positive results in Luanda, Angola

    Cranes Scot tactician Bobby Roberts Williamson has this afternoon named his 18-man final squad that will fly out to Angola tomorrow morning for the World Cup Qualifiers match against the hosts.

    The final list has four home based players and 14 professionals to be commanded by team Captain Andy Mwesigwa (Kazakhstan). Hamza Muwonge (Bunamwaya) travels as the second choice goal keeper to Denis Onyango (South Africa) following his impressive performance during trainings and the late arrival of Abel Dhaira.

    Iguma Denis from newly promoted Super division side Victoria University FC is another home based player who has caught the eye of Bobby for the Sunday encounter. Bunamwaya’s Godffrey Walusimbi and Masaba Simeon (URA) will also be on flight.

    The list has the Sweden based AIK FC professional player Martin Kayongo Mutumba, Netherland’s Fabian Derrick Kizito, Johnson Bagoole (Rwanda), Emmanuel Okwi (Tanzania), Sserumaga Mike (Ethiopia), Hassan Wasswa (Turkey), Kalungi Henry(USA) and Ochan Patrick (DR Congo)

    Others are Kavuma Habib (Rwanda), Dan Wagaluka (Rwanda), Oloya Moses (-Vietnam) and Mawejje Tonny (Iceland). The team leaves Friday morning aboard Kenya Airways to Nairobi before connecting to Luanda.

    Full squad: Onyango Denis, Hamza Muwonge, Masaba Simeon, Iguma Denis, Mawejje Tonny, Mutumba Martin, Fabian Kizito, Bagoole Johnson, Walusimbi Godfrey, Oloya Moses, Okwi Emmanuel, Mwesigwa Andy, Sserumaga Mike, Kalungi Henry, Wasswa Hassan, Kavuma Habib, Wagaluka Dan and Ochan Patrick.

  • FIFA approves Com-Unity Course for Uganda

    FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter

    FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has approved a women Football Com-Unity course for Uganda to run in Kampala between July 10-13 this calendar year.

    The decision by the international football body has been received with a big applause from Uganda, a member association to FIFA. Ugandan FA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edgar Watson Ssuubi has described the development as being timely to the federation demands and more particularly to women football development.

    This is the first time a Com-Unity course is coming to Uganda since its inauguration by the FIFA President. Com-Unity is a FIFA presidential programme whose main purpose is to improve awareness of the value football can have in a country.

    The course is further intended to improve cooperation and communication between a member association, its Government, Non Governmental Organizations, the media and other partners. The programme also distributes knowledge on communication and marketing skills to help member associations attract partners and sponsors.

    FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson has said that the course in Uganda will mainly focus on women Football Development.  Participants will be drawn from Government, FUFA, sponsors, the media and NGOs relating with women football.

    An instructor from FIFA M/s Kelebogile Mosimanewapula is expected in Kampala next week to discuss and lay strategies for the success of this three day great seminar

  • Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa jets-in tonight

    Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa

    Ordabasy FC player in Kazakhstani Andy Mwesigwa arrives in the country this Tuesday night to assume his administrative responsibility as the ‘field commander’ of the Cranes team.

    The Team Captain will touch Entebbe International Airport at 1:05am just five hours before IBV FC players Tony Mawejje and goal keeper Abel Dhaira land at the same airport aboard Qatar Airlines.

    The Iceland based players have already been booked on Qatar Airlines and will be at Entebbe International Airport around 6:42am tomorrow morning.

    Captain Andy Mwesigwa has proved a good Commander after winning three Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup titles and one Regional Cecafa Club Championship as a captain. His arrival will be a big boast to the team that looks to be well positioned to earn Uganda some results.

    Head Coach Bobby Williamson will now have full board training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday before flying out his final selected squad to Luanda on Friday morning.

    Meanwhile, injured midfielder Musa Mudde is showing good recovery and was able to train with teammates in Mandela National Stadium Namboole today.

    In other developments, goalkeeper Denis Onyango and striker Moses Oloya have joined camp this afternoon.

  • FUFA wins SOS Court Appeal

    Federation President Lawrence Mulindwa's has continued to trounce and register more court wins against the negative forces opposed to his leadership

    Lady Justice Jane Kigundu of the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala on Thursday 24th May 2012 dismissed the criminal revision appeal lodged by SOS.

    SOS, lead by Denis Mbidde and his colleagues in the background were challenging the ruling of the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Sylivia Nabaggala who acquitted and freed the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa, the Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson and the Chairman of the Federation Legal Committee Muhammed Bazirengende of criminal charges related to the alleged forgery of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) constitution.

    The High Court held that the application for review lodged in the High Court challenging part of the proceedings of the Chief Magistrate was prematurely brought before the High Court. Lady Justice Kigundu explained that the revision orders of the High Court are made in respect to final orders and judgments of Court and not interlocutory orders. .

    The learned Justice further held that the Chief Magistrate was right in dismissing the private criminal prosecution brought by Dennis Mbidde (SOS) because it was premised on an incurably defective affidavit and charge sheet which could have caused injustice to the accused if they were forced to take plea on a defective affidavit and charge sheet.

    The high court thus upheld the ruling of the Buganda Road court Chief Magistrate and dismissed the application for review lodged by the so called Save Our Soccer selfish group.
    FUFA was represented by Counsel Ochieng Evans and Luganda Alex while SOS had Mulema Mukasa and David Ssempala. FUFA has not lost any single Court case since the year begun and this is the third victory for the federation since January.