Alupo backtracks, Fufa party, USL not amused

Fufa CEO Edgar Watson is already looking ahead.

Education and Sports Minister Jessica Alupo produced a contrasting intonation as she read government’s pronouncement on the way forward for Ugandan football at the Media Centre.

After last week’s Cabinet sitting, Alupo told this newspaper the Uganda Premier League (UPL) formation would be spearheaded by an interim committee, set up by herself, and the 16 clubs (from FSL and USL) as per the 2010 Jinja Declaration, and that Fufa would only remain supervisors.

Yet her official statement - which strangely was in the public domain by on Saturday evening – yesterday, pronounced Fufa as the body to “steer the process leading to the creation of a new national Super League under the new name Uganda Premier League,” with the help of an independent five-man committee.

She added: “Officials of clubs that played under the USL may join officials of clubs that played under FSL and not the other way round,” a contradiction to her earlier suggestion that the UPL would be run under the USL secretariat.

Strange admission
On the sidelines, Alupo dismissed suggestions the paper had been doctored. “It’s true I first saw the final paper this (yesterday) morning… as I was upcountry at the weekend. But final compilation was the work of the PS (Francis Lubanga) and I trust it.”

On Fufa’s legality, Alupo and her team were caught offside. “I know a lot has been said about Fufa’s legality,” she said.

“And that the same thing (registering Fufa as a limited company yet National Council of Sports rules bar it) was done by previous Fufa leaders (the late Denis Obua) and they were banned.
“I promise you that in two weeks time, we shall come back here and tell you our stand on that.”

Yet Fufa’s legality remains the mystery in this affair. USL chairman, Kavuma Kabenge and his deputy Fred Muwema gave a joint missive.

“It’s five steps back,” they said, “Until the issue of governance is solved, we are going to see a recurrence of this.

“The minister was only called in to arbitrate, not to give directives. In fact we were let down by her failing to define the right Fufa. As a business, we shall maintain our resources (sponsors) and continue looking to reforming governance.”

Fufa CEO Edgar Watson is already looking ahead. “It’s good that we now have one official league and we will endeavor to look at the guidelines and technicalities of what needs to be done to meet the targets,” he said.

Her words last week
“Once teams in FSL and USL have harmonised, the league will be run under the USL set-up, now UPL. Fufa will only remain supervisors. Also, clubs from FSL and USL (with help of interim committee) should organise themselves according to the Jinja Declaration (to form UPL).”

......then yesterday
“Fufa will steer the process leading to the creation of a new national Super League under the new name Uganda Premier League. Officials of clubs that played under the USL may join officials of clubs that played under FSL and not the other way round.”

Major Highlights from yesterday’s pronouncement

Fufa to implement government recommendations
New league to comply with Fifa Statutes and Fufa constitution
Three FSL clubs for relegation, three Big League sides promotion
Clubs in UPL to comprise of those post Jinja Declaration
Maroons relegated because they didn’t register with Fufa for 2012/13 season
Double-faced clubs to unify under one directorship
No punishments on clubs, players, officials for playing in USL (yet Maroons were punished)
Fufa can grant amnesty to banned USL officials (Kabenge) on promise that they do not take football matters to court again

amwanguhya@ug.nationmedia.com