The Uganda Premier League celebrates the milestone achieved by one of our own, URA FC, following their historic recognition by FIFA for submitting a winning strategic plan under the FIFA Club Management and Professionalisation Programme.
URA FC’s success reflects the growing professionalism and ambition within Uganda’s top-tier football.
The club’s achievement came after participating in the 2024 edition of the programme held at Golden Tulip, Kampala, where several UPL clubs were certified by both FUFA and FIFA. Each participating club was tasked with submitting a strategic plan in a chosen area. URA FC’s proposal stood out globally, earning them a place among the two winning clubs alongside ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire.
According to a communication from FIFA Senior Professional Football Manager Picalló Aguilar Marcos to URA FC CEO Allan Munaaba:
‘We are pleased to announce the two winning submissions: ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) and URA FC (Uganda). We will be contacting the winning clubs shortly to coordinate their invitation to our upcoming Club Management Network Session in New York.’
As winners, URA FC will receive support from FIFA to implement their strategic plan. The proposal focuses on nurturing talent from grassroots to life after football, while balancing governance, financial health, stakeholder engagement, and growth.
URA FC CEO Allan Munaaba expressed appreciation:
‘We thank the Government of Uganda and the Commissioner General, our Patron, for supporting our club activities. Special thanks go to the FUFA President for championing professionalisation across the league. This award is dedicated to everyone who has contributed to our journey, players, coaches, staff, and our loyal fans.’
Reacting to the news, the Uganda Premier League CEO, Bainamani Bernard Bampaire said;
‘On behalf of the Uganda Premier League, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to URA FC for this remarkable achievement. Being recognised by FIFA is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about the club’s vision, organisation, and commitment to excellence. This is not just a win for URA FC, but for the entire league and Ugandan football. It affirms that our clubs are ready to compete and shine on the global stage.’
URA FC’s award-winning strategic proposal centred on nurturing talent in a sustainable way, placing strong emphasis on developing players from the grassroots level through to life after football. The plan impressed by its clear alignment with long-term governance, business, and sporting objectives, structured around four key pillars: financial stability, efficient internal processes, stakeholder engagement, and continuous learning and growth.