Women football in Uganda started way back in the early 90s with girls and women playing the sport for fun. The game was scanty and no defined structures as compared to the current status in the Country.
Girls and women would competitively play against the opposite sex to create competition.
Mrs. Kazibwe ‘Mama Becca’ Rebecca (RIP) and Mr. Paul Ssali are the founding members of women football in Uganda. Ssali was Uganda Cranes goalkeeper in 1978, the last time Uganda appeared at the Nations cup finals.
The then National senior team, the She- Kobs (Now Crested Cranes) would be hand-picked due to lack of defined competitions.
A national league was started in the mid-90s but suffered natural death due to various challenges inclusive of sponsorship.
The National team played its first international match in Nairobi Kenya in 1994.
The first qualification attempt for the Africa Cup for women was in 1998 when Uganda hosted Egypt at Nakivubo Stadium and drew 1-1 and lost to Egypt 0-1 away.
The tournament in South Africa (2000) where Uganda emerged 3rd, beating Reunion 3-0, drawing 2-2 with Zimbabwe and losing 0-2 to the hosts was an eye-opener to most Ugandans and many fans as they reignited theirs in women’s football.
Schools and other women teams started to play the game.
On the third attempt, in the Africa Women Cup; Uganda played Ethiopia over two legs in 2003, unfortunately, they have eliminated again on goal aggregate (2-3).
Women Football Structures in Uganda
At the inception of the leadership of FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa (2005-2013), the game gained some progress. Emphasis was put on grass-root development and coaching education.
Leagues were played at district and regional levels. It became slightly easy to select players for various National teams.
The number of school girls’ teams playing the game is tremendously increasing because on average, 50 teams participate in the annual national post-primary tournament with the best teams representing the country at the East African Secondary Schools Games.
Schools championships have produced players like Sandra Nabweteme, Aturo Ruth, Hasifah Nassuuna, Fauzia Najjemba, Mutuzo Lillian, Vanesa Karungi, Asia Nakibuuka, Juliet Nalukegnge, Sawuya Sana and Sanya Babirye. Schools have also played a key role in feeding clubs with players.
Under the current leadership of FUFA President Eng Moses Magogo, women regional leagues have been emphasized and strengthened where the FUFA Women Elite League was started in 2015.
The FUFA Women Elite League now has 16 teams in the 2018/2019 season but started with 12 teams in the 2015 debut campaign.
Women football coaching, administrative seminars, and courses have been conducted to take women football to another level under the reign of current FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo.
Participation at international level
The Uganda U20 team participated in the 2009 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Germany 2009 and beat Rwanda 2-1 at home and drew 1-1 away but failed to proceed to play in Zambia and South Africa due to lack of funds.
Again, the National U20 faced off with South Sudan in a 1st round World cup qualifier in 2013 where Uganda beat South Sudan 9-0 away and 13-0 at home in Lugogo hence qualifying for the 2nd round. They were supposed to play Egypt but the North Africans pulled out. Uganda’s next opponents were Ghanaian for the 3rd round action but it was unfortunate the team failed to travel to West Africa due to lack of funds and pulled out.
The Senior national team now the CRESTED CRANES played friendly games in Egypt (2011) to prepare for the AWC(2012). DR Congo eliminated the team on 2-5 goal average.
In September 2013, our U17 girl’s national team played in the U17 Airtel Rising Stars African Championship, another strong youth structure in Nigeria and Uganda emerged 4th out of 12 other African countries. Our very own lady head coach, Hadijah Namuyanja Mourinho won the best female coach accolade as well as Namutosi Agnes and Lilian Akello were selected among the All-Stars team to represent Uganda at the Arsenal Camp in Rwanda. Thanks to FUFA and Airtel for the sponsorship. It is an annual event that starts at the district level, then to the regional level and nationals where a U17 national team is selected for the African championship. This year’s (2014)championship that was scheduled to take place in Gabon, was postponed due to Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Again under the current leadership, grassroots and youth football have been much considered in the Federation technical strategic plan. FUFA applied to FIFA for a grassroots football for both girls and boys. This already is in plan and FIFA, FUFA, Ministries; Local Government and Education & Sports will on 15th sign a memorandum of understanding to officially launch girls and boys football in all primary schools in Uganda for ages 8 to 13. And on 20th September 2014, the launch and football festival for the Kampala region will take place at Old Kampala SS grounds.
Administration
Three ladies have undergone high-level football administration training and the entire women football fraternity has benefited. They are Mrs. Florence B. Nkalubo (former FUFA Executive member in charge of women football), Ms. Kaliga Mariam and Ms. Nambi Loida.
We also have FUFA Women Standing Committee in place which implements the women football work-plan annually. It is headed by Ms. Mariam Kaliga an Executive member of FUFA in charge of women football.
There is a full-time employee, Ms. Hadijah Namuyanja who coordinates women’s football affairs nationwide at the FUFA headquarters.
FUFA also operates and channels its activities through structures namely; Uganda Women Football Association headed by Margaret Kubingi Kebba, Regional and District Football Associations, where women representation is a must!
Coaching
Most retired players have been trained as coaches. Currently, we have 5 qualified lady coaches who have attended FIFA, CAF and FUFA coaching courses and have attained among others the CAF C license. All are retired players who have the knowledge, playing experience and expertise in coaching, therefore, they were appointed to handle the technical matters of the different ladies, national soccer teams, as seen below.
Senior National team: Ms. Faridah Bulega (Head coach)
