The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) briefed representatives from 48 schools as part of the ongoing process to establish the FUFA Schools of Excellence Programme.
More than 50 participants attended the engagement after responding to FUFA’s earlier call for applications. FUFA organised the meeting to provide a detailed understanding of the programme’s objectives and to clarify the responsibilities expected from both the federation and the participating schools.
FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha, CEO Edgar Watson and Football Development Director Bashir Mutyaba attended the meeting.
During the session, Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim explained that the Schools of Excellence Programme forms part of FUFA’s broader technical master plan designed to create a structured pathway for elite football development within the education system.
‘Now that we are undertaking the technical master plan, we have brought it into this programme. Our objective is to engage schools that have the facilities that will provide both footballing education and academic education.’
He said FUFA intends to partner with selected schools across the country to nurture talented players within their respective regions.
‘Our plan is to have at least one school in each of the eight regions for boys and then four schools combining double regions for girls. The objective is to look for talent within those areas and make sure that these talents are taken into one school where their development is monitored by us and supported in terms of coaches, equipment, facilities and nutrition.’
The FUFA President added that the programme will create a clear pathway for talented players to progress to the national level.
‘Once these players have been developed to a certain level, the best among them will eventually be taken to the National Football Academy. When the best of the best train together, it will be very easy for us to pick the national underage teams.’
He emphasised that the programme will support FUFA’s efforts to strengthen youth national teams.
‘As you know, we now have Under 17 teams for both girls and boys every year. Selecting such teams would be difficult if we do not have a structured programme like this.’
Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim also welcomed the strong response from schools that expressed interest in becoming part of the initiative.
‘I am excited that when we asked schools to apply, many showed interest in becoming part of the programme.’
He clarified that the Schools of Excellence concept is based on a partnership between FUFA and the selected schools.
‘In our definition, a school alone cannot be a School of Excellence. It becomes one when the school and the federation come together in partnership to provide an environment that supports both education and football development.’
He explained that FUFA will provide the technical support while the schools will contribute facilities and academic support to the programme.
‘We expect the schools to provide bursaries for the players while FUFA will provide the technical staff, equipment, balls and training kits. The schools will also make their facilities available for camps during holidays. It is a win-win partnership.’
Football Development Director Bashir Mutyaba said the initiative is one of the federation’s key projects aimed at implementing the long-term player development plan.
‘This is one of the initiatives of FUFA aimed at implementing the long-term player development plan mainly focusing on elite players while also considering both on-field development and off-field aspects such as academics.’
He noted that FUFA organised the engagement after issuing a circular inviting schools to apply for the programme.
‘This engagement follows the circular we issued calling for applications. Today we are engaging the schools that applied so that they clearly understand their obligations and also the obligations of FUFA.’
Mutyaba added that FUFA will move to the next phase of the process through inspections and the formalisation of partnerships.
‘The next step will be to issue another circular detailing the timelines for inspections, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding and eventually confirming which schools will qualify as Schools of Excellence.’
He confirmed that the programme will initially target eight boys’ schools across the eight FUFA regions and four girls’ schools covering double regions.
‘The Schools of Excellence programme will also serve as a talent pipeline for players who will eventually be selected to join the National Football Academy.’
