Uganda: Clubs Form Lobby Group

By John Vianney Nsimbe

Eleven Uganda Premier League (UPL) clubs have come up with a platform to jointly lobby for better sponsorship deals, writes JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE.

In the face of increased financial burden to run operational budgets of their clubs, leaders of eleven topflight teams led by SC Villa's Ben Misagga, have formed the UPL Community Clubs Forum (UPLCCF) to lobby for their interests with common cause and secure sponsorship, among others.

Members of the forum are Soana, JMC, Kirinya, Sadolin, Proline, Express, Lweza, Vipers, Bright Stars and Onduparaka, which are part of the 16-team Uganda Premier League.

According to a letter, signed by Ben Misagga as chairman, sent to local governing body Fufa and UPL, the objectives of the forum include getting sponsorship and helping in generating consensus with authorities on the issues of football development in the country.

Misagga argues that the forum will boost their effort in trying to close the financial gap on government institutional clubs. Football teams like KCCA, URA, Police and Saints Simba enjoy heavy funding and support from their respective mother government entities that include Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, the police and the army.

On the other hand, community and privately-owned clubs have been hit hardest with financial woes due to poor match attendances in the local league. Corporate sponsors have also not been forthcoming. Officials of member clubs are optimistic that their forum will soon yield significant results.

Vipers SC executive member Tadeus Kitandwe notes that they have many similar challenges which, if handled together, can be easily solved. For example, Kitandwe says there is a suggestion that the non-institutional clubs should get a bigger fraction of the sponsorship money from the league title sponsor (Azam).

The basis of this idea is that the government institutional clubs have bigger financial backing to guarantee their survival. If consensus is reached under UPLCCF umbrella, Kitandwe says, such a suggestion should be amicably-agreed on and approved.

However, KCCA chairman Julius Kabugo disagrees, arguing that his side is a community club, too.

"Our long-term plan is to be less reliant on the institution. And as a club, we are hoping that the annual package we get from Azam can increase from Shs 50 million, to cater for our many expenses," Kabugo says, stressing that he is not against the UPLCCF provided its intentions are to boost the growth of the game.

But he cautions that the creation of UPLCCF contradicts the principles in which all the 16 UPL clubs have to negotiate as one block. Fufa vice president Dennis Mbidde said they will meet UPLCCF leaders this week to discuss the matter. But he feels creating a 'faction within a faction' may not be helpful for the game.