Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) was among the several sports federations invited for the sports forum workshop organised by the National Council of Sports on Tuesday at Copper Chimney Restaurant in Lugogo.
The forum was graced by the Minister of State for Sports Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi who presided over the function. He was flanked by Omara Apita (Commissioner of Ministry of Education and Sports), Aggrey Kibenge (Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports), Bosco Onyik (NCS Chairman) and Dr. Patrick Bernard Ogwel (Acting General Secretary National Council of Sports).
Addressing the officials at the forum, the FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo highlighted on the essence for Uganda sports industry to join arms in a bid to tap into the global sports industry.
‘Uganda should strategically position itself in the approximately $600Billion global sports industry and to be able to tap into this, we need a common voice and goal. We also need to equally address challenges of law on merchandising and commercial rights‘ Eng. Moses Magogo remarked.
FUFA was also represented at the forum in Lugogo by Executive Member Mr. Chris Kalibbala and FUFA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Mr. Humphrey Mandu.
‘Whereas funding is a key element but our projection should move away from the egg-chicken stories that we seem to be focusing on. As sports, we need to show value to Government and there’s no way we are going to achieve that if we are divided. 70% of the population in Uganda is below the age of 30 and many are unemployed. As sports, this is a tool we can sell to the Government, show value and convince them that sports can solve the problem by employing the youth‘ Eng Magogo added.
‘The Sports Forum allows us share ideas &improve together for the betterment of sports. This is a very critical time for the sports sector in Uganda and world over, given that sports has become one of the most profitable and unifying factor’ Bosco Onyik, Chairman of the National Council of Sports.
‘National Sports Associations should also strive to have their own homes and stadia, and according government will devise means to support these infrastructure’ Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel, Ag. General Secretary, National Council of Sports.
State Minister of Sports Hon. Charles Bakabulindi hailed the spirit upon which the sports federations respected and attended this forum, basis of ironing out the different challenges facing the sports industry in the country at the moment, per say, the sports associations and federations.
‘I thank the different federations and associations that despite the several challenges, you have been able to promote sports in the country. I am happy that the Government has created this platform for us to forge a way forward and this is evident enough that the government has an interest in the sector. It is only through such engagements that we shall have a common ground and therefore be able to form strategies. I pray such fora continues to take place‘ Hon. Charles Bakabulindi noted.
‘This Sports Forum should define indicators or measure of performance of Sports Associations to guide on the contentious issue of sports funding. Equally other stakeholders like sponsors, NGOs, Nutritionists should be invited to create a total package‘ Dr Donald Rukare, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) official and President of Uganda Swimming Federation.
‘The perceptive of Sports in Uganda has progressively improved over the last 8 years and this is not only due to the increased funding but also because of the deliberate strategies to transform and improve sport’ Aggrey Kabenge, Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports.
A couple of other pertinent issues as professionalization of the sports sector, legislation, taxation and infrastructure development among others were also discussed by the sports federation and associations leaders.
A similar symposium is being planned for in early August 2019 as a follow up mechanism.
The last forum of this stature organized by the NCS was in 2014 but it remains on record that FUFA was the first sports body in Uganda to bring together all sports federations and associations with a similar workshop last year at Sheraton Kampala Hotel.
The Sports Forum 2019 is the beginning of many more future engagements with Sports Associations.
The outcomes should be able to feed into the Cabinet Paper to advocate and address the concerns of the sports sector.
