The FUFA President has assured stakeholders of FUFA’s commitment to improving the Uganda Premier League (UPL) during the 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FUFA Super League Limited (FSLL) held in Jinja. Addressing board members, clubs and officials, he emphasised the importance of governance, financial sustainability and reforms as the League’s flagship competition.
Role of FUFA Super League Limited
The President reiterated FUFA’s position in delegating the League’s management to FSLL. ‘FUFA Super League Limited is a company that FUFA has delegated the mandate to run the Uganda Premier League. The Uganda Premier League is a competition of FUFA by statute, but in the interest of improving the game, the Executive Committee decided to delegate this role to FSLL,’ he explained.
He thanked the Board for stabilising operations after years of internal disagreements. ‘Before this particular Board, there was a lot of suspicion, discontent and conflict that did not improve the League. I want to thank the Chairman and the Board for the work you have done to stabilise the ship,’ he said.
Acknowledgement of Stakeholders
The President paid tribute to FUFA’s 3rd Vice President, Owek. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, for bridging the Federation and the League in long-term planning. He also applauded the UPL Secretariat for its commitment despite challenges, as well as the clubs for their sacrifice. ‘Without the clubs, and many times without you digging into your individual pockets, we would not have the League. You volunteer money, you volunteer time and you volunteer yourselves for the game,’ he noted.
He welcomed newly promoted clubs Entebbe UPPC FC, Calvary FC and Buhimba United Saints FC into the UPL and praised BUL FC for hosting this year’s AGM, noting the importance of rotation.
Governance and Club Licensing
Emphasising governance, the President said that AGMs must become a standard practice at club level. ‘From the FUFA point of view, going forward it is going to be a mandatory Club Licensing requirement that there must be an AGM at each club, even if it is a privately-owned club. Owners must meet the board or executive to discuss the statutory agenda with FUFA present. If the meeting does not take place, then you may not be given a licence to play in the League,’ he stressed.
Football in a Time of Opportunity
Reflecting on Uganda’s football progress, he described the present period as one of the best in history. He attributed this to peace, improved infrastructure and supportive legislation. ‘Sincerely speaking, we are living in a peaceful country. We can travel from Calvary to Buhimba and Mbarara without anybody stopping you. We need to appreciate His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni because there is no way talent can be harnessed if wars are going on,’ he remarked.
He pointed to the new National Sports Act, increased government funding for national teams and major investments in infrastructure, including international stadiums in Hoima and Lira, as opportunities that the game must seize.
Challenges of Funding
Despite the progress, he identified financing as the biggest challenge for the UPL. ‘Members, our biggest problem today in the Uganda Premier League is money. Almost all the funds we use are coming from institutions or private individuals. This is not sustainable. In such circumstances, you cannot enforce standards because you are asking someone to spend personal money on pitches or player salaries. We need to address the issue of money,’ he said.
Technical Master Plan and Player Development
The President outlined FUFA’s Technical Master Plan, which focuses on talent identification, development, professional clubs and life after playing. He stressed that elite players must be developed at clubs and warned against the constant loss of stars to foreign leagues. ‘When we lose our best players, the League gets depleted of stars, and it becomes very difficult to sell. We need money to make money,’ he stated.
FUFA’s Position in the League
He rejected suggestions that FUFA had abandoned or interfered with the League. ‘FUFA Super League Limited is a company owned by 17 shareholders. Sixteen are clubs and the seventeenth is FUFA. We are shareholders in this company and cannot be intruders. The UPL is our flagship brand, and we cannot abandon it,’ he affirmed.
Reforms and Investment
Turning to reforms, the President called for unity. ‘As a Federation, we believe you cannot do the same thing the same way and expect different results. We need all 16 clubs to support the reforms and to be ambassadors of change,’ he said.
He revealed that FUFA has mobilised resources for reforms, including a direct cash injection of over 950,000 US dollars. ‘This money could have gone into other projects, including Kadiba Stadium, but we chose to invest it in the League to generate more revenue. It is bigger than any other sponsorship and comes from FUFA, not government,’ he clarified.
Further commitments include investing in new UPL offices worth 300 to 400 million shillings, introducing technical officers to collect match data, and strengthening the Secretariat with additional professional staff.
Call for Unity and Patience
In conclusion, the President urged stakeholders to embrace change despite uncertainties. ‘Let us not run away from friendly sources like FUFA that has come to ensure that we improve the situation. Negativity in some sections of fans is created by us. We must educate our fans that this format ensures fairness and competition,’ he said.
‘Some people have said these reforms will not work. Nobody has the authority to say so before they are tried. Let us give them a chance. We believe that we shall be vindicated by creating a stronger product that generates more revenue for our clubs,’ he concluded.
