Eleven Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) representatives re-elected Arinaitwe Rugyendo as the FSLL Board chairperson for a second term on the bounce.This was at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday September 23, 2016 at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.
All the members in attendance voted unanimously in a secret ballot to reinstate not only Rugyendo but the other four board members as well.
In his acceptance speech, Rugyendo thanked the clubs for the trust and voting stability. “I want to congratulate everybody around here,” he started before adding. “I thank you for voting stability and steady progress within Ugandan football as we intend to go forward with One Uganda, One People.”
Rugyendo who admits he came into the game without much clue went further to add that the clubs have not only voted integrity but also a board that sets to ensure the game is marketed as well as avoid no friction to attract more sponsorship.
You also voted integrity in Ugandan football and after the first year, what we want now is ensuring coordinated marketing system, dialogue, consultation, harmony, persuasion, logic rather than emotions, science rather than fiction and sacrifice for the growth of the league.
He revealed that in the first term in office, much time was spent on cleaning the image that had derailed potential partners from coming on board.
For starters, the first year was aimed at cleaning the tainted image of Ugandan football given that all potential partners we sought had image problems but it’s something we have worked on.
Besides Rugyendo, David Sserebe was re-elected as the Vice Chairperson while Humphrey Mandu, Fred ‘Guy’ Kawuma and Peter Kibazo also earned another term as the three board members in an election overseen by FUFA elections presiding officer, Steven Batanudde.
Meanwhile, before the elections, chairpersons exchanged ideas on how to promote the league and also advised on how to overcome challenges.
FUFA 3rd Vice President in charge of the league, Denis Mbidde wasn’t happy with the league’s main sponsors, Azam TV who still show less live games even in their 3rd year and called for them to partner with another local channel to take the game to the people.
“Azam shd get a local partner to ensure the league is promoted since they haven’t done enough to reach the locals. There is no short cut to that,” he argued. “Besides, the 52 games are still few being shown live. It’s a 3rd year and by now, it should have been more than 100 games at the moment.”
Mbidde, who was privy to the signing of the deal in Dar es Salaam, also revealed that they had promised more than one Outside Broadcast Van to show more than a game concurrently but it hasn’t happened.
They had promised another second OB van to show more than one game concurrently but they haven’t made that happen yet.
On partnering with local partners, Board secretary Peter Kibazo said that is illegal although it would be ideal.
“There is the legal, ideal and what we want,” he said. “Azam wasn’t making good promotion of their own baby although they had promised to do promotions and drives advertising games. But they said they can’t do it in Kampala due to KCCA restrictions.
But he also commended them for availing a track for that job although fueling and operations allowances would be borne by the FSLL board which he said was stiff due to budget constraints.
There is a track available but on match day, we need to get fuel and allowances to drivers – our budget was stiff.
Proline’s director Mujib Kasule advised that the role of league promotion is purely for the board and sponsors but also tasked clubs to promote their own games.
Role of league promotion is mainly on the board and the sponsors. The clubs can do their own things. Let’s task the board to increase promotion of the league as well as sponsors and partners.
KCCA’s Julius Kabugo conquered with Kasule and insisted that before the league is even promoted, let clubs first market themselves to the locals.
First, we need the people to know us. Most Ugandans only know about VEK. If people know us, then they will come. First, I want the numbers, and then money will come.
There were also concerns raised on the unnecessary league breaks which kill the momentum of the league, role of the 3rd VP who is expected to be the link between FUFA and its 16 topflight members plus the audited reports were also read to the members.
Club Chairpersons/representatives at the AGM
Julius Kabugo (KCCA), Ben Misagga (SC Villa), Mujib Kasule (Proline), Ronald Mutebi (Bright Stars), Ali Sekatawa (URA), Faisal Muhammad (JMC Hippos), Alias Silver (Bul FC), George William Mulindwa (Vipers), Godfrey Bwire Osodo (Kirinya Jinja SS), Lt. Fortunate Ogen (The Saints) and Joseph Opio (Sadolin Paints)
Clubs Not Represented
Express, Onduparaka, Police Soana and Lweza.
FUFA representatives
Decolas Kiiza and Denis Lukambi (Legal Officer)