Moses Magogo Hassim has secured a fourth term as president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), continuing a leadership run that began in 2013. The 48-year-old was re-elected unopposed during FUFA’s 99th Ordinary General Assembly held Saturday at the Hoima Resort Hotel in Hoima City.
His uncontested return signals strong backing from Uganda’s football delegates—88 of them who voted—and highlights the deep influence Magogo has built in the game over more than a decade.
“The next priority is to focus on generating our own revenues,” Magogo said in his acceptance speech. “This is how we can build a strong football industry that supports clubs, players, and infrastructure.”
He said FUFA must professionalize its operations and tap into football’s commercial potential, particularly as Uganda prepares to co-host two major continental tournaments: the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
“These are not just events,” he told the delegates. “They are a call to action. We must show the world that Uganda can organise, compete and shine on the continental stage.”
Magogo’s next term extends to 2029 and comes as Uganda’s football ambitions expand. The country is investing in new stadiums in Hoima and Lira and preparing for international visibility. But the challenges are well-known: domestic leagues remain underfunded, national teams struggle with consistency, and club football is far from fully commercialized.
“The main focus is getting money for the league,” he said. “If we have done it with the Cranes to qualify for the Afcon [2025], and with the U17 side going to the World Cup, we can achieve it in club football too.”
Since taking office, Magogo has pushed reforms including club licensing, youth development programs, and construction of infrastructure like the Kadiba Stadium. He also helped draft a new national sports law and has advocated for an expanded sports budget.
Still, his leadership has its critics. Some accuse him of monopolizing FUFA’s top seat. Others point to governance issues and funding gaps that persist in local football.
Asked about the roadblocks, Magogo pointed to deeper issues. “Inadequate funding, mindsets that view the game as recreational, and vices that threaten the integrity of the game,” he said.
Despite that, he remains confident that the sport is making progress. Uganda Cranes broke a 39-year AFCON drought by qualifying in 2017, and have since made appearances in 2019 and now 2025. The women’s national team, the Crested Cranes, reached the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 after more than two decades. Youth teams are also gaining momentum, with the U17 squad qualifying for the 2025 FIFA World Cup.
The General Assembly adopted new resolutions aimed at expanding women’s football, improving refereeing programs, and modernizing FUFA’s administrative systems. Among the notable updates was the elevation of Azar Taibu—a government lawyer and former chair of FUFA’s judicial bodies—to the role of second vice president. She replaces Darius Mugoye, who died in 2023.
Taibu joins Florence Nakiwala and Agnes Mugena, forming what Magogo called a “bonus” for FUFA’s executive leadership.
“Dr. Azar is a PhD holder, works with the government, and we’ve worked with her as our head of legal bodies,” Magogo said. “As you know, women have their ways of doing things, so we believe having three ladies in the top executive is a bonus for us.”
The FUFA Executive Committee has now grown from 15 to 17 members.
As Uganda enters a pivotal chapter in its football history—with continental tournaments on the horizon and mounting pressure to deliver on domestic reforms—Magogo’s leadership will remain under scrutiny. But for now, he has the mandate to continue.
“CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 are an opportunity to convince Ugandans that football is much more than corner kicks and free kicks,” he said. “It touches society in various ways.”
