By Swalley Kenyi

FUFA has chosen to hire officials from countries that are regular at the Africa Nations Cup to advise them on what to do to end decades of Uganda’s absence at the continental showpiece.

While addressing the press in a two-hour press conference, FUFA president Moses Magogo attributed Uganda’s consistent failure and the latest for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup to what he called eight parameters.

They include football administration, media, fans, coaches, resources, facilities, clubs and the players.

Uganda registered its 19th consecutive failure at the qualifiers when they lost their last game of the 2015 qualifiers to Guinea in Morocco last week.

But it should be noted that despite their failed 2015 campaign, Uganda Cranes managed to pick four points from two matches against Ghana in Group E of the qualifiers.

The country last featured in the Nations Cup in 1978 where they lost to hosts Ghana in final of the competition.

Magogo said that they have organised a two-day symposium in Kampala slated for January 24-25, 2015 to advise them on what to do.

“Unless we fix the current state of football in this country, we shall continue to be close to qualify (for the Africa Nations Cup). And that is why we need to take a deep sigh to find out why we have failed to qualify,” Magogo said.

The symposium will be addressed by officials from Ghana, Cape Verde and Costa Rica among other countries whose teams have regularly featured in the Nations Cup.

FUFA has also resolved to participate in the 2016 Africa Nations Championship and the AFCON 2017 qualifiers only with the view to build a team that should qualify for the 2019 Africa Nations Cup in Cameroon.

The campaign is dubbed, “Project Cameroon 2019”.

FUFA first vice president Justus Mugisha will head an organising committee for the symposium comprising members of the press, government officials and football leaders.

Others on the committee include Red Pepper’s Patrick Mugumya, FUFA executives Bernard Ogwel, Sam Mpiima, Norah Nansimbwa from State House, former USPA president Mark Namanya, former FUFA official Patrick Isiagi and their former publicist Rogers Mulindwa.

“We believe this committee has the potential to plan Project Cameroon 2019,” Magogo said.

However he has insisted that the federation will investigate Uganda Cranes failure in the ended campaign and possibly punish whoever will be found to have mishandled it.

Without revealing details, Magogo said that the Police is already investigating information that some individuals facilitated the failure.

RELATED STORIES:

AFCON: Uganda beats Ghana 1-0

Micho declares war on AFCON

AFCON 2015: Uganda beats Guinea 2-0; tops Group E

Baskets make unique Christmas gifts

They are both ornamental and functional.

Some of the art pieces Aine makes. Photos by Ritah Mukasa

Tags: