Ugandan football: Azam freeze league sponsorship

By Kenneth Muwanga in Dar-es-Salaam

The Azam Uganda Premier League could kick off on August 21 with an escalation of the controversy over control of sponsorship money.

The controversy has been sparked off following the attempt by FUFA, the domestic football governing body, to divert financial payments from the league sponsors Azam Media Limited to new exclusive bank accounts.

In a letter to Azam earlier this month, FUFA chief executive officer Edgar Watson requested Azam to make future payments to accounts that the clubs cannot access, a departure from the terms of the three-and-half year deal sponsorship agreement sealed this year.

If FUFA’s request is granted, FUFA Super League Limited (FSL), who were the representatives of the UPL clubs when the deal was signed this year, will also not access the accounts.

But FSL publicly opposed the move and have taken the matter to police.

‘Illegal’
 

League action returns on August 21. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

At the same time, Azam TV CEO Rhys Torrington confirmed that FUFA president Moses Magogo walked to his office suggesting some changes in finance transfers and after, also CEO Edgar Watson wrote a letter indicating why and where to transfer the money.

“I was surprised at the move and I told Moses that it was impossible to do that for it involved a lot of issues,” said Torrington, adding: “Later, I received a letter confirming to me what I should do with the money.

“We have an agreement of three parties – Azam Media, FSL and FUFA. None of us should breach the contract. If FUFA want me to send money on their accounts it should be formal as we were in front of cameras when the agreement was signed,” emphasized the chief executive.

Earlier on, FSL lawyer Richard Omongle said: “It was illegal for FUFA to move behind the scenes and try to overpower FSL.

“We have the mandate to run the league. The mandate was given to us by the general assembly, so there is no reason to have chaos in the league now.”

At the moment, Ugandan clubs will have to look for funds to start the league that is due as the Azam CEO confirms they are not sending any monies to any one unless all parties agree.

“We are putting all the funds to the league on hold, but we will honors our contract to broadcast the league,” added Torrington.



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