The FUFA President, Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, made his maiden media appearance since his re-election last Saturday in Hoima on NTV’s ‘Sports Knights’ on July 7, 2025. Hosted by Mabel Kebirungi, with Ismail Dakhaba Kigongo, Andrew Mwanguhya and Rhema Daniels, the discussion covered Magogo’s football journey, delegate roles, FUFA’s stakeholder relationships, the future of the game and challenges as outlined in his manifesto. Below are excerpts from the show.
FUFA President on the Manifesto 2025-2029 under the theme: ‘The Game: Past, Current and Future’.
The booklet, which doubles as a manifesto, is a reflection on the past, present and future; both for me personally and for the institution. FUFA now operates a budget of 40 billion shillings and to date, there have been no scandals related to financial mismanagement.
FUFA President on the delegates system
Thank you for the Congratulations regarding the national teams and I truly appreciate it. Regarding the perception of FUFA as a closed group, let me clarify that to become a delegate, one must own or belong to a football club. This so-called ‘closed clan’ actually has a very clear point of entry.
Our delegates are elected from over 1,000 clubs across the country, with each investing a minimum of ten (10) million shillings annually to run their clubs. When I became President, regional funding was a mere One (1) million Uganda shillings; however, we have increased that to 25 million Uganda shillings per region.
The FUFA Statutes mirror those of FIFA. This governance structure was not invented by Magogo. I have also had proposals turned down within this structure. We have made deliberate efforts to engage stakeholders, including visits to all the eight (8) FUFA football regions.
Above: Stakeholder engagement in Kampala Central DFA in 2024
There is a claim that we “hide” delegates. In truth, there are 34 FUFA members. If someone genuinely wants to find out who the delegates are, they can.
Engagement with delegates is ongoing. Naturally, this familiarity gives one an advantage if they later decide to run for FUFA President.
FUFA President on the sporting side and League development
On the sporting front, there are undeniable struggles. Success on the pitch attracts business interest. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to fully finance the league, it urgently needs increased funding.
We have made progress such as bringing CHAN and AFCON hosting rights to Uganda. These were deliberate efforts to shift the mindset of Ugandans about local football. While we have made significant strides in engaging internal stakeholders, we need to enhance our outreach to external stakeholders, particularly the government and media. Even if someone has personal issues with Magogo, let’s not lose focus on the football.
FUFA President on the Masaza Cup vs Uganda Premier League (UPL)
Perception is shaped by marketing. In this region, anything related to the kingdom receives positive PR. Media is a powerful tool in shaping perception, and truthfully, we have not done enough for the league. That is why we must overhaul several elements.
Globally, top leagues rely on strong clubs to drive visibility and revenue. In Uganda, underdeveloped club structures have limited the league’s potential. So yes, comparisons to Masaza are valid in some aspects.
FUFA President on why our players struggle internationally
One major reason is branding. But fundamentally, it starts with the football itself. That is why the FUFA Technical Master Plan (TMP) emphasises early talent identification and development.
Take Lamine Yamal, for instance. Years of structured training went into his development. We must start identifying talent as early as 9 years old. We already have trained personnel who understand talent spotting basics.
Players are logged into a system, coordinated by our Chief Scout Joram Katende. Senior scouts visit villages, and identified players are placed in academies. We have reached about 25% rollout, but we now need mass enrolment in institutions and schools. The goal is to build a robust pipeline.
FUFA President on club weaknesses and fixture disruptions
We are not claiming to be perfect. Over the past two to three years, we have been revising the calendar. Clubs have rightly raised concerns about fixture disruptions. However, national team friendlies always fall within the international window.
FUFA President on Government funding and public misconceptions
It is a myth that FUFA inflates numbers to get money from the government. People need to understand how government budgeting works. The funds FUFA receives are strictly earmarked for national teams not for general operations.
FUFA President on criticism and media relations
I did not attack the media but I criticised individuals within the media who push false narratives. FUFA has no problem with constructive criticism. But when people manufacture perceptions that do not reflect our work, we must address it.
FUFA President on CHAN hosting delays
There has been progress behind the scenes, but I cannot claim we are satisfied. This should have been accomplished sooner. Football stakeholders understand the significance of CHAN. However, we are often working with Government departments to make things move.
I submitted a comprehensive document in December, and implementation only began recently. I thank the President for his role in cutting through the red tape.
FUFA President on affordability and fan experience as CHAN looms
We want the game to be affordable for fans, while also improving their matchday experience.
FUFA President on lessons from CHAN and the road to AFCON
CHAN is a precursor to AFCON. The lessons learned here will be vital for our preparations.
FUFA President on prize money in the League
We can only distribute what the league earns. Until the league generates substantial revenue, prize money will remain modest. This also ties into the broader changes we plan to make.
FUFA President on the anti-match fixing campaign
We’re actively tackling match fixing. We’ve contributed to the development of the Sports Act and engaged institutions like the police, DPP, and soon, the judiciary. System-wide understanding is essential for lasting impact.
FUFA President on refereeing and officiating
The FUFA Technical Master Plan (TMP) addresses referee training and development. That said, using refereeing as an excuse for violence is weak. We must strive to improve officiating but never resort to aggression.
