Fufa must keep system of taking AGMs all over Uganda

On Saturday, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) held its 94th Annual General Meeting at White Horse Inn in Kabale.

The meeting, which attracted more than 300 officials, discussed the development of the Ugandan game while mapping out the way forward for the next 365 days.

There was, as always, representation of delegates from all over the country as well as the 33 members of Fufa who included all the 16 topflight clubs, the Big League, Special Interest Groups and legends of Ugandan football.

For many, it was the first time they were visiting ‘the Switzerland of Uganda’ Kabale.
Friday was a terrifically cold evening and night and the majority of the Fufa visitors were all dressed the sweaters, jackets and scarfs for warmth.

But as they departed on Saturday evening and yesterday morning, they were all awed by the beauty that abounds in Uganda’s most far-flung areas.

Previously, the Fufa AGM was a matter of Kampala where stakeholders would be called from all over the country to discuss the game in the country’s capital.

That practice did little to dispel the notion that Fufa was a Kampala affair. In fact the game of football, which was meant for all Ugandans, in many ways appeared like a preserve for Kampala.
But today the game is a brand for all. Fufa is a nationwide brand and must appeal to every Ugandan be it in Zombo, Amudat, Busia and Kisoro.

By taking the AGM to such places, the economic and social transformation of the host town is immense. Domestic tourism, an area where Uganda has laboured to achieve, is inadvertently the biggest winner always.
For instance no less than Shs250m was spent in Kabale at the weekend. And the bulk of that money stayed in the south western town of Uganda.

Last year the assembly was held in Masindi. And in the years before, Luweero, Soroti and Lira.
Next year, it will be hosted in Adjumani.
At every assembly, there is a football match played between delegates and ex-internationals on the eve of the AGM. Such a practice inspires young people into learning the game either as players or coaches.

There is also recognition of aged former players from the hosting region for the services to football.
It is just as well that the assembly flatly rejected a motion by one of the members to make the AGM a strictly Kampala affair, like it used to be not so long ago.
There are tangible benefits in taking the assembly throughout Uganda.

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