Connect Africa, Free Africans Before foreign interference, African societies had structured systems of governance led by kingdoms and by monogamous family units. The continent guided its own development, making significant advances in military strategy, religion, agriculture, medicine, science, technology, and trade. Africa suffered: a.Over 400 years of the slave trade b.113 years of the Scramble for Africa, aka Colonisation c.46 years of apartheid in Southern Africa Today, Africa continues to deal with: a.Imported governance systems such as democracy and elections, which are not organic for us b.Neo-colonial policies perpetuate the non-physical domination of Africa by aggravating trade imbalances and deepening foreign debt dependencies c.Imported religious denominations, with a control tower elsewhere, to control and manage people The devastating impact of this subjugation, a history humanity must look back on with shame, shattered the organic evolution of African society, leaving an imported path forced on its people Kings Agaja, Linze, Abdul-Kader, and Afonso, and Queen Nzinga, fought against the slave trade, while Kwame Nkrumah, Lumunba, Julius Nyerere, and Mugabe fought for the end of colonisation. The generation of President Kagame, Museveni, Afwerki, and Ouattara has approached the end of Western domination and imbalance through African integration, legitimate trade, and mindset change. The new wave of Ibrahim Traore (Burkina Faso), Tiani (Niger), and Goita (Mali) represents a fundamental shift in how the same problem is approached. In my opinion. the new African order should now learn from but forget the past and forge a new future Let the shackles of our past serve not as a burden but as the battery that powers our future. To break these systemic cycles, we need a clear formula. The Arab and Asian worlds have already forged their own paths to independence—now Africa must rise to build the 'Africa we want.' For me, the low-hanging fruits that do not require foreign intervention: 1.Connect Africa Connect every African capital to the others across the 54 countries via highways, SGR trains, and backbone fibre optics. For example, Uganda connects Kampala to the borders with Rwanda (Katuna), Tanzania (Mutukula), Kenya (Busia/Malaba), South Sudan (Nimule) and DR Congo (Mpondwe/Vurra) via Highway (Multiple-Carriage), SGR and Fibre. Each of these countries continues to connect from the Ugandan border to its capital, then to the border of its next neighbour. 2. Free Africans Let African Governments remove visas for all Africans moving between African countries. If Europe is operating the Schengen Visa and free borderless movement in 29 countries but the Samias, Masai and Hausa need to go through border to visit their blood relatives across borders established by Europeans These two actions will automatically break the chains. Can’t the African Development Bank, Africa Club and each African Government, from the Taxes they collect, deliver these two low-hanging fruits in the next 20 years?

What a weekend: Successful 102nd FUFA Congress with landmark changes but also had Sand Cranes qualify to AFCON and U17 (Boys) National Team qualify to U17 AFCON 2027 The U15 (Boys) National Team is in camp preparing to compete in the U15 FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan later this month Banange tuli busy mutulindemu

There is only one option for us in leadership...to act Others can criticise and bgenerate wishful ideas Everyday we wake up to work

Ugandan Striker Arnold Vula bags a Hattrick in Club football in Belgium as his club KV Beerschot was beating RFC Liège 5-1 Familiar Celebrations

Double date with Burundi in AFCON Qualifier matches for the U17 (Men) and Beach Soccer. Three, inclusive of the Crested Cranes traveling to Zambia, National Teams in action at the same time Thank you, the National Teams Department [Ntegge Patrick and @PauloMukatabala ], at FUFA to have seamless logistics support to the National Teams Bagenda Nanyonyi si Bus. Thank you so much the Government of Uganda and FIFA Good luck ladies and gentlemen

Do you think it is by accident that we keep very cordial relationships with our former coaches? 1. Who remembers how Coach Desabre was recruited? 2. Who could have been the cameraman A zakayo ball awaits whoever @AhmedMarsha declares the winner with the correct answer

This is the kind of journalism that football needs. It is our league and only us can make it better by positive and professional reporting Sikusima ngako but this one.. Very proud of you @BrianKawalya1 on this. Bakuwe ekigato ekilala

Some facts here Of the 35 players used by @UgandaCranes in the September-October International break, 24 are homegrown, of whom 7 are currently in the UPL, and 11 are Heritage players. The senior national team is for the BEST Ugandan Footballers irrespective of where they play or where they were developed from. There can not be affirmative action at this level The higher you go the cooler it becomes. If you want to chill with the big boys, do like they do The 3rd pillar of the FUFA TMP is the strategy to improve the conditions for UPL based players to get proper training, facilities, competition, welfare and motivation. It is only this that will help make them compete for places fairly in the national team not artificial sympathy and football whataboutism. Even top clubs in Europe with the best academies also get players grown elsewhere for their senior teams. Football is not a cup of tea Uganda Cranes will always consider home based and home grown players if they merit Bihogo has been solid whenever called upon for duty

We listen to the different opinion, the debates and the positive criticism. These are the batteries that keep us going In order to achieve our vision: "To be the number one football nation in Africa on and off the field" We must strengthen the senior national teams (Men & Women) to compete and chill with the big boys This is three-fold agenda which we have been communicating all along Those suggesting on improving home-grown talent are talking within our plans and tuko pamoja We will walk this journey as a country together irrespective of who is in charge and with the support of the people and the government of Uganda Okilina mu obuzibu?

If you were me, how would you feel? Superintending over the beautiful game with fundamental industry transformation. @UG_Airlines chartered to carry the @UgandaCranes for the pioneer landing at Kabalega International Airport (Uganda's second ever international airport). It is @AllanOkello8 identified from lira, given debut opportunity by the strong-minded Mike Mutebi at 16 years having proven in the FUFA introduced FUFA Juniors League. Now plying his trade in one of Africa's biggest leagues and clubs. He is donning the Janzi sporting wear brand owned by FUFA going to play for the Uganda Cranes in Hoima City Stadium as the first ever out of Kampala National team match of this magnitude. Hoima City is buzzing with businesses. The Power of the game of Football All this in the name of AFCON 2027 Pamoja, an idea @OfficialFUFA cooked to turn around the Sporting infrastructure landscape of Uganda Uganda's Sporting Revolution is unfolding just in front of us

Thank you so much Your Excellency for the commitment and support to this #AFCON2027 project that is going to change football in this country for good. On my own behalf and that of the football community we can not thank you enough. – at Kampala, Uganda

The @GovUganda has consistently listened to us. Government funding is only going to make football better. – at Kampala, Uganda

I want to thank @GovUganda of Uganda for its continued support towards football. Aswe speak Government funding has now been extended to @UPL clubs, infrastructure development linked to #AFCON2027 is expected to leave Uganda with three international stadiums in Namboole, Hoima and Akii-Bua. Training facilities are being developed across the northern, Hoima and Namboole clusters. @OfficialFUFA is also engaging Government on the development of additional facilities across the country, including proposals covering Mbarara, Fort Portal, Jinja, Mbale and West Nile and the objective is to ensure that we have a Uganda Premier League standard facility in each of the 18 provinces. FUFA is also working with Government on policies aimed at supporting the sports industry, with particular focus on professional football. I am also glad to note that following engagement with government, there is going to be notable improvements in the welfare and logistical support for the senior national team. Foreign-based @UgandaCranes players flying for more than four hours will travel business class, a new team bus, and chartered flights will be used whenever we have back-to-back fixtures where it is deemed necessary, to stay in five star hotels while camping in Uganda and abroad whenever possible in addition to improved bonuses and allowances for the senior national team as part of efforts to improve the team’s standards. Government has also agreed to pay qualification bonus to the players who played in Uganda’s qualification campaign for #AFCON2025 Morocco and palyers will receive a pro-rata qualification bonus of USD 10,000 each. – at Kampala, Uganda

Ogwawa? Where do you belong? Every stakeholder has a role and responsibility for the state of our game We all share the successes and the failures Let everyone play their role to improve the game not Arsenal jerseys

Government is such a huge football stakeholder FIFA insists that internal football decisions of interpretation and application of Football Statutes and Regulations are an exclusive reserve of internal stake holders Stake-holding simply means the individuals and entities that influence the direction of an activity most times to their benefit Football has both the internal and external stakeholders. The game needs both to thrive and grow. Internal: Players, Coaches, Clubs, Officials, Refrees External: Government, Sponsors, Media, Fans But Government is a huge stakeholder and we realised this quite early On 23rd January 2015, @OfficialFUFA invited HE @KagutaMuseveni as chief guest to launch the Project Cameroon 2019. He was ably represented by HE VP-Sekandi. He whispered to me before he left... "Byona mbiwulidde naye Omukulu mugambe ki?" This fundamental question and subsquent answer is what we are reaping today Our mission was to sell to the @GovUganda that football is not just recreational but a full economic activity. I clearly stated that what we need from Government as FLIP thus Funding, Law, Infrastructure and Policies Since then, @JanetMuseveni was appointed minister of Education and Sports and the Government of Uganda reaction to sports has been exponentially upward These are the measurable parameters 1. Funding: from 2bn UGX allocation in 2015 to now over 500bn UGX allocated to the sports sector in one year 2. Law: from an obsolete 1964 NCS Act to the 2023 National Sports Act 3. Infrastructure: From a total system breakdown to magnificent stadiums inclusive of the country side 4: Policies: Loading..........Our conversation has changed, it is no longer just AFCON 2027 but how will the sports industry take advantage of the post AFCON? The good news is that government once again is listening to the music. Speak the language Government understands and send the right dogs to hunt

Football is a trinity of Sport, Business and Governance Whereas I acknowledge the sporting efforts being done by different individuals to promote the @UPL, we also need to build the brand value of the league It is wrong to undertake an interview of a sporting band like the @StarTimesUganda sponsored league in a Boston Celtics a pro basketball franchise jacket It is called brand mixed messaging. As a fan I am not sure whether what is being promoted is the UPL or NBA. It is brand building which creates perception. We all buy perception not reality. We cannot sell what buyers (fans) have not perceived as a need but a want We shall all learn with time Kati ogenda kuwulira bukajajata..