14 Key Highlights Transpire In FSLL [UPL] 7th General Assembly
By: Kayiira Jackson
Ahead of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), 96th Annual General Assembly set for 17th October 2020 at Silver Springs, Bugoloobi, the board with biggest members, UPL held its annual Assembly on Saturday.
Uganda Premier League, Board held its seventh Annual General Assembly on Saturday 26th, September 2020 at Rider Hotel Seeta-Mukono and fourteen key issues were highlighted.
The 15 members of UPL, FUFA and Government of Uganda were represented on the day.
Government was represented by NCS Assistant general secretary in charge of Administration, Titus Kayigwa, while FUFA was represented by First FUFA Vice president, Justus Mugisha.
In the same meeting, the Board passed a 2.5Bn shillings budget for Jan-December 2021 and FUFA confirmed Njeru Technical Center as a venue for UPL promotion playoffs and many other issues as highlighted below;
Key Highlights from the 7th FSLL AGM
1. For the first time all the company shareholders attended (15 UPL clubs + FUFA). The 16th Club is yet to be determined through FUFA Big league play offs.
2. Government was represented by the NCS Assistant General Secretary Administration Mr. Kayigwa Titus.
3. FUFA was represented by 1st VP Mr. Justus Mugisha and 3rd VP Hon. Nakiwala Florence Kiyingi and FUFA Director Competitions.
4. Newly promoted clubs UPDF FC and MYDA FC confirmed members of FSLL. Also a resolution to automatically admit the 3rd team promoted through pending playoffs was passed.
5. Accounting date changed from 30th June to 31st December. This means adoption of the calendar year as the company financial year to allow proper preparation of the Assembly held in September and also to sort issues of passing the season budget in September when the season has already started among other reasons. This was proposed by the Board and was passed by the shareholders.
6. Board proposal to form a UPL SACCO was passed.
7. Marketing and Communications budget to increase. This aims at increasing the brand value of the league and attraction of sponsors among others.
8. Diversification of league income sources or streams to reduce overdependence on one main sponsor StarTimes.
9. FUFA asked to engage government to help clubs on the testing of players for covid-19 which is so costly.
10. Clubs asked to collect data on match attendance and gate collection and share with the league Mgt to create more league content and information for media and sponsorship purposes among others. More sporting statistics and business statistics to be compiled by clubs and shared with the league.
11. A 2.5 bn budget was passed for the financial year Jan-Dec 2021. And a 1.9 bn budget for the transitional period July-December 2020 was passed.
12. FUFA announced the extension of player licensing exercise by one month. Relatedly, the kick off date for SUPL has been extended by a month. This is to enable clubs prepare well and follow COVID-19 protocols as issued by the government.
13. FUFA also highlighted the following as priority areas for the league;
>Infrastructure development (eg lighting of some stdiums@floodlights)
>Resource mobilization
>Quality Competitions
>Sponsorships
14. FUFA engaging government on the review of conditions for resumption of football competitions.