On a monumental weekend of Uganda football when the Western Uganda District of Masindi hosted the Stanbic Uganda Cup final this year on June 12, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president Eng. Moses Hashim Magogo took time off the day’s hectic schedule to visit the newly acquired Aliguma Foundation Sports and Empowerment Centre (AFSEC).
This Is Our Home: CEO Ritah Aliguma (L) gave Fufa president Eng. Moses Magogo (C) a tour of the 15-acre plot of land in Kinuma Village – Bigando Parish, Miirya Sub-County, just 10 kilometres from Masindi Town was acquired and earmarked as the place that would be official home of the Aliguma Foundation Sports & Empowerment Centre (AFSEC) mid June.
This was before the evening showdown when Jinja-based Bul obliterated StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) champions Vipers 3-1 in a thrilling encounter played at Masindi Municipal Stadium.
Few facilities in Uganda
Magogo who was flanked by a small entourage of football officials was welcomed to Kinuuma Village, Bigando Parish – 10kms from Masindi Town – for his courtesy visit by Aliguma Foundation’s founder Ritah Aliguma.
“As FUFA, when we see individuals or organisations coming up with such ideas of stadiums , we get excited and fully support such initiatives since we don’t have enough facilities in the country,” said Magogo, also a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive member.
This was after Magogo had listened to the foundation’s plans of building a sports complex entailing two football pitches, netball, basketball, tennis and handball courts as well as a swimming pool, cottages plus a skills center where youth can hone skills and put their innovations to good use, too.
The Grand Masterplan: A bird's view artistic impression of how the AFSEC will look like after completion in an estimated five years if the foundation gets another UEFA Foundation grant.
“Imagine if this centre is accomplished with the two soccer pitches, accommodation and all necessary things provided, the national soccer teams and others can always come here for camps and stay away from the distractions in Kampala city. Do explore the option of also building a stadium that can even host more local, national and international games,” Member of Parliament for Budiope East in Buyende District advised.
Pivotal project
Aside hailing Aliguma Foundation for the great initiative and UEFA Foundation For Children for the great support towards the former’s new home, Eng. Magogo tasked the foundation’s CEO Ritah Aliguma to work closely with Fufa on this pivotal project.
Technical Advice: FUFA president Hon. Moses Magogo made several recommendations from the technical perspective and promised that the federation will chip in to the cause.
“President Magogo was happy that we have already started on the project. It is a costly project and we need FUFA as the governing body of football in the country to guide us and be part of our journey,” said Ritah Aliguma.
In the initial stages, Hon. Magogo linked Aliguma Foundation with Uganda’s own Confederation of African Football Stadium Inspector Ivan Kintu Bayige to supervise the ground breaking works and architectural plan.
Eng. Magogo, too, made several recommendations from the technical perspective and the foundation will be hoping FUFA chip in to the cause as they hopefully wait for another grant from UEFA through its Sports For Resilience & Empowerment Project (SREP).
Pride Of A Nation: The Crested Cranes, Uganda's national senior women's football team, alongside other nine national football teams could camp at AFSEC Masindi in future.
The foundation has set a five-year period during which they want the AFSEC to be fully running and operational.
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