As part of FUFA Community Social Responsibility, I led a group of FUFA officials, staff and the President’s XI (formed of Ex- international players) visited Luzira Upper Prison on Sunday morning. I arrived from Morocco at 6am and without sleep undertook a prior arranged programme by the FUFA Marketing and Communications team and the Uganda Football Player’s Association.
It is our strategy to take and preach football to communities as a tool to unite, inspire and give hope and here we found a community of largely the age of 20-35 years from allover Uganda.

Not everyone in prison committed the offenses they are charged or convicted for, true some came in conflict with the law and are undergoing rehabilitation before they join the community again. For sure anyone of you reading this could easily be there as this is life.
I am glad we inspired and gave hope to these Ugandans using football. They are disciplined and a very organised group with a “FUFA” of their own to organise a league of clubs named after European Clubs. Their Select team is called ‘Upper Stars’

The inmates were extremely excited beyond what we hoped. They even danced for us the kisoga “Tamena Ibuga”
We played a football match which ended 2-2 with President’s 11 goals scored by Edward Kalungi and Hakim Magumba. I also got an opportunity to play football along the President’s XI.
We have agreed that the names of the European Clubs be dropped and replaced with Uganda Azam Premier League Club names and we launched the annual “FUFA Cup of Hope” We expect that our clubs will also visit and play with these guys regularly.

FUFA donated a computer, footballs, referees equipment, and 50 cartons of soap from BIDCO Uganda Limited the Sponsors of Uganda Cranes as a beginning.
The Uganda Prisons authorities and the inmates thanked me and FUFA for the recent qualification and stellar performance at AFCON 2017 with a gift.
We will continue to support this community with courses for referees, coaches and administration.

Thank you Uganda Prison Services for the opportunity given to us and the good job being done in Luzira. We pray for the inmates to once get out and reunite with thier families and loved ones.
It is Our Game, It is Our Country
MAIN PHOTO: FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo receiving a gift from the Chairman of Upper Prison Sports Committee Nsamba Andrew for taking the Uganda Cranes back to AFCON after 39 years.