Roberts Kiwanuka to steer UYFA growth in new term

Roberts Kiwanuka begins his new four-year term as the chairman of the Uganda Youth Football Association (UYFA) with a clear vision to enhance the organization’s reach and effectiveness.

Kiwanuka, representing Rays of Grace Academy, secured his position unopposed at the UYFA’s 18th Annual General Meeting. His re-election arrives at a time when UYFA’s role in organizing major youth competitions has shifted, with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) now directly managing key leagues such as the Academies League and the Fufa Juniors League for Under-15 and Under-18 players.

In light of this structural change, Kiwanuka intends to pivot UYFA’s focus. “We want to build the capacity of our academies and increase enrolment so that more young players can be reached through organised and credible development structures,” he stated in a recent interview.

The association’s national event portfolio has seen a reduction in recent years, with UYFA organizing tournaments like the Under-15 in 2023 and Under-13 championships in subsequent years. The new leadership faces the challenge of defining UYFA’s role within the evolving youth football landscape.

Kiwanuka sees the recently completed re-registration process for academies, conducted jointly with Fufa, as a crucial step. This initiative has yielded a more accurate and reliable database of academies prepared to contribute to youth football development across the country.

The AGM also welcomed ten new academies into the UYFA fold, including prominent names like SACU SA, Heritage SA, and Toronto City. Kiwanuka will be supported by a new executive committee, featuring Farouk Kigongo as Vice Chairman for Technical Matters and Jaffer Ssenganda as Vice Chairman for Administration. The meeting was attended by Fufa Executive Committee member Ronald Barente, who encouraged unity and strategic planning among youth football stakeholders.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/soccer/kiwanuka-returns-targets-uyfa-growth-5571994