One telling image from the U-17 men’s national team training ahead of last month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco had former goalkeeper Yasin Mugabi sharing notes from former creative midfielders Steven Bengo and Ibrahim Saddam Juma.
The latter two were Ghanaian coach Kingston Laryea’s assistants for the campaign that culminated into qualification for the 2026 Fifa U-17 Men’s World Cup while Mugabi was the team’s goalkeeping coach.
On seeing the image, you immediately remembered the three were celebrated talents in their own rights in their day. The Cubs could probably not have better guides around them and the trio which was later on in the tournament joined by Vincent ‘Titi Kamara’ Tumusiime could not have chosen a better path than continuing to serve in football.
The fourth pillar of Fufa’s Technical Master Plan emphasizes that everyone who has played the game has a role to play after football. That is a change from the narratives that involved accusing Fufa of neglecting the plight of those that gave their youthful years to the game.
Robust systems
Fufa might only have launched their seven year strategic roadmap in 2023 but their track record actually shows a federation that has been keen on giving former players and referees a chance to serve the game that created them.
The onus is now on ex-players and referees to build capacities that will force Fufa into creating robust systems that can absorb more football alumni.
‘It is intentional for us to bring in former players,’ Fufa president Moses Magogo said during a dinner held at Sheraton Kampala Hotel to celebrate the Cub’s qualification to the World Cup in Qatar for a second successive time.
‘We want to involve them by giving them an opportunity to enjoy and work for the game that made them who they are,’ Magogo added before rolling off a list of names of former players now serving the federation and its national teams in various capacities.
‘I am glad that we have given former players an opportunity to grow. For this team, we intended to get the fresh ones who have just finished (their careers) to work with these players.
‘We brought in coach Kingston from Ghana so they can learn from him because he has been there,’ Magogo continued as he praised the coaching team for ‘the football we are playing’ and further adding that ‘the team is entertaining, deliberate, and confident, takes decisions, and dictates games.’
Juma, Bengo, Mugabi, and Tumusime are the poster boys of the moment but are part of a 15-man list currently serving Fufa as national team coaches. The current Fufa administration has always relied on ex-players and referees to run affairs with another 15 like Moses Basena and Majidah Nantanda having served as national team coaches in the past.
Growing list
Magogo, who also played football for Kinyara and Mutundwe Lions en route to picking up interest in administration, mentioned Jerome Katende who serves as chief scout, Brian Umony who serves as the Technical Master Plan manager, Paul Mukatabala – the national teams officer, Patrick Ntege – the international football competitions manager, Edward Kalungi – the estate management officer, Humphrey Mandu, and Edgar Watson – Fufa’s chief executive officer and former captain of the Uganda Cranes. Mandu is among seven ex-players serving on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) local organizing committee (LOC) as subcommittee members.
Bengo and 17 other ex-players serve as Fufa technical officers with roles such as choosing players of the match during Fufa competitions.
Seven other ex-players are serving as Fufa scouts while Watson leads a secretariat that can boast of 12 former players and ex-Fifa referee Mashood Ssali, who is also part of an eight-member team working as referee instructors.
Speaking ex-referees, Ronnie Kalema is one of eight Fufa executive committee members that were actively involved in the game.
Mujib Kasule and Nantanda are in an exclusive group of four that includes former goalkeepers Sadiq Wassa and Ibrahim Mugisha serving as Caf instructors.
Jean Sseninde, currently serving as interim executive director at Cecafa, is also part of a group of six ex-players and referees serving as general coordinators during matches.
Some other ex-referees led by Ali Tomusange, who officiated at the 2002 World Cup serve as fitness instructors while Yusuf Awuye and Margaret Kebba Kubingi also serve as Caf /Fifa commissioners.
The Fufa president has also directly supported up to 43 ex-players to enroll for coaching courses while former Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa is among six ex-players serving on Fufa’s committees.
‘Football does not end when the boots come off or when the final whistle blows,’ Fufa’s Corporate Affairs director Ahmed Hussein, noted.
‘We are talking about former players and referees who retired, had careers cut short by injury, or chose to give back through coaching, administration, education, and practical on-field sessions for the next generation of referees.’
‘Through the Fufa ecosystem, we have deliberately opened doors for these legends to transition into administration, coaching, education, scouting, and technical roles. Many have taken the initiative to up-skill through Fufa, Caf, Fifa, and the Football Administration and Management (Famaco) education courses. Some have sponsored themselves, others are fully supported by Fufa, while others have benefited from cost-sharing programmes.
The Fufa president has also been a key pillar in supporting former players by fully covering course fees for a large number of them to acquire or upgrade their coaching credentials across all Fufa and Caf levels,’ added Hussein, who has also played a part in helping former players with managing their communication responsibilities.
Former players and referees serving Fufa
National team coaches: Fred Muhumuza (assistant, Uganda Cranes), Geoffrey Massa (team manager, Uganda Cranes), Steven Bengo, Ibrahim Saddam Juma (assistants, U-17 Cubs), Patrick Senfuka (U-17), Yasin Mugabi (goalkeeping, U-17), Vincent Tumusiime (safeguarding), Simeone Masaba (assistant, U-20 Hippos), Noah Kasule Babadi (fitness trainer, U-20), Cissy Nakiguba (national women’s teams, kits manager), Billy Stephen Kigundu (goalkeeping), Rica Byaruhanga (coach, Sand Cranes), Geoffrey Akabway (assistant, Sand Cranes), Lawrence Kizito, Noah Veron Ddamba
Formerly on national teams: Moses Basena, Sam Ssimbwa, Matia Lule, Abdullah Mubiru (assistants, Cranes), Morley Byekwaso (Cranes – Chan 2024, U-20 – Afcon 2021), Fred Kajoba (RIP – Cranes, goalkeeping), Jackson Mayanja (U-20 – Afcon 2022), Sadiq Wassa (Chan 2021 – goalkeeping), Majidah Nantanda, Faridah Bulega (Crested Cranes), Oliver Mbekeka (U-20 women), Wasswa Bbosa (U-23 men – assistant), Christine Wanyana (U-20 women), Hadijah Namuyanja (Teen Cranes – coordinator)
Technical officers: Ayub Kisalita, Steven Bengo, Dan Wagaluka, Habib Kavuma, Tony Odur, Vincent Kayizzi, Yusuf Kinene, Lawrence Kizito, Hamisi Diego Kizza, Baker Lukooya, Yasser Mugerwa, Moses Musoke, Nathan Mutenza, Godfrey Ssentongo, Robert Tumusiime, Benjamin Jamhuri, Noah Veron Ddamba, Denis Kizito
Scouts: Patrick Senfuka, Mubarak Tenywa, Samuel Okodo, Joseph Emitu, Hamza Olema, Francis Omara, Phiona Wajambuka
Secretariat: Edgar Watson (CEO), Patrick Ntege, Paul Mukatabala, Humphrey Mandu, Jackson Nyiima, Edward Kalungi, Brian Umony, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Tony Mawejje, Baker Lukooya, Jerome Katende, Joan Namusisi, Mashood Ssali
Fufa excom and delegates: Moses Magogo, Ronnie Kalema, Dan Obote, Mike Letti, Paul Ssali, Fred Tamale, Abraham Maraka, Richard Ochom, Justine Nambafu
Coach instructors: Mujib Kasule, Majidah Nantanda, Ibrahim Mugisha, Sadiq Wassa
General coordinators: Ajab Waiswa, Sewaya Miiti, Festus Kirumira, Benjamin Jamhuri, Dennis Batte, Jean Sseninde
Referee instructors: Fred Wanyama, Mashood Ssali, Brian Miiro, Catherine Adipo, Davis Katabira, Rosebell Rwamuyamba, Amin Bbosa, Ali Waiswa, Ali Tomusange
Fitness instructor: Ali Kalyango, Sam Kayondo, Rehemah Kizito Nsubuga, Mohammed Shaban Ndawula
Caf / Fifa Commissioners: Yusuf Awuye, Margaret Kebba Kubingi
Fufa committees: William Nkemba, Abraham Maraka, Andy Mwesigwa, Hakim Magumba, Noah Kasule Babadi, Robert Donnel
Afcon 2027 subcommittees: Andy Mwesigwa, Ali Asabila, Fred Tamale, Patrick Ntege, Richard Ochom, Dan Obote, Humphrey Mandu
Supported by Fufa president for Caf courses: Anthony Bongole, Hassan Mubiru, Noah Kasule Babadi, Godfrey Mugisha, Veron Ddamba, Yasser Mugerwa, Sam Mulondo, Stephen Billy Kigundu, Fred Habineza, Ayub Balyejusa, Paul Mucureezi, Richard Malinga (Caf C), Simeon Masaba, Patrick Senfuka, Steven Bengo, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Tony Mawejje, Vincent Tumusiime, Sulaiman Ssebunza, Baker Lukooya, Andy Lule (Caf B), Lawrence Kizito, Fred Tamale, Hakim Magumba (Famaco), Jerome Katende, Brian Umony (administration), Phillip Ssozi, Alex Isabirye