Amidst the stand off between Uganda premier league clubs and the Federation of Uganda football associations (FUFA) over the proposed new Uganda premier league format, FUFA has extended Shs25m to each of the 16 premier league clubs.
A number of club leaders tipped this website that the money came late last month.
“Yes, we received the money last month. It was Shs25m but there was no explanation as for what the money was. It is still there on our club account,” one of the club leaders revealed.
The move, according to highly placed sources, could have culminated from a crisis and fact-finding meeting chaired by President Museveni in the presence of the First Lady and minister of education and sports Janet Museveni in the State House.
The other attendees, among others, included the FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo, the state minister for sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, FUFA Executive committee member Ronnie Kalema, the Attorney General and former Express FC chairman Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the National council of sports General Secretary Dr. Bernard Ogwel and a consultant engineer attached to the ministry of Education and sports.
In this meeting Kiryowa Kiwanuka, among other things, raised concern over his ignored calls to FUFA to give the struggling top flight clubs money off the Shs19bn (current) ring-fenced annual budget and yet the clubs make the national team players. This affects the quality of the national team with clubs unable to pay and retain good players.
“I have written to FUFA several times advising them to give clubs money in vain,” an emotional Kiwanuka reportedly opened up before the president wondered why Kiwanuka had not put such information to his knowledge.
Sources allege that this could be the reason why FUFA rushed to wired non conditional Shs25m to each club account subsequently.
FUFA is the only sports body that gets full budget alloaction from the government through the National council of sports.
This financial year, NCS has wired over Shs5bn to the federation with the balance off the Shs19bn allocation to be wired by January next year.
In 2019, FUFA officially started catering for travel expenses for clubs representing the country in the continental competitions. It is believed that this was part of what was briefed to President Museveni to necessitate the allocation of ring-fenced Shs10bn which shot the federation’s budget to Shs17bn.
President Museveni was reportedly asked, as government, to help the clubs lifting Uganda’s flag high at the continent – something the Head of State sanctioned.
However, in 2023, the federation cut off the support to these clubs playing in both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. And despite scraping off the funding, the clubs would still fully cater for the leader of delegation provided by the FUFA, including his or her standard allowances.
Wakiso Giants president Musa Sebulime, while appearing on NBS Sport, claimed that FUFA had promised each of the Premier league clubs Shs50m per season instead.
However, a disappointed Musa says that this money never came until his Wakiso Giants were relegated last season.
Haruna Kyobe, a Vipers SC director, has over time accused FUFA of not delivering Vipers SC prize money after winning the league title – something that has however been always watered down by the federation.
The clubs are now seeking the First Lady’s intervention and this website is compiling details of the pending meeting.
