Parliament has summoned the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to explain how it spent public money after the Auditor General flagged gaps in its 2024/25 accounts.
MPs on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) have also called in other sports federations and associations.
The summons followed the National Council of Sports (NCS), the government body that oversees sport, appearing. Its officials failed to account for some of the money given to the associations.
The auditor general’s report says FUFA was allocated Shs 21 billion in the year under review. Some of that money has not been fully accounted for.
The committee chairperson, Muwada Nkunyingi, said MPs wanted to trace the money.
“Our focus should be on the money the government has always given to Fufa and other associations. We need to see how they were spent, so we have chosen to invite them together with the National Council of Sports,” he said.
The Inspectorate of Government has also said it wants to investigate Fufa over irregularities in accountability and abuse of office.
The NCS delegation was led by Muhamad Bbaale, its senior finance officer. He struggled to answer questions about the state of football infrastructure ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
MPs focused on the training facility at Kyambogo. The Auditor General said the government had paid for work there that was missing or could not be confirmed.
Nkunyingi said the facility was meant to have 22 doors costing USh49m. The Auditor General saw only 11.
The fence was meant to cost Shs 275 million, but the Auditor General could not verify the cost. A transformer costing Shs135 million was not seen on site.
Bbaale offered to prove the work had been done.
“Mr chairman, I want to show you pictures of the doors here on my phone to show you that the doors are installed as planned,” he told the committee.
Nkunyingi did not accept the photographs. He ruled that the committee should inspect the site itself.
“I will not take the photos, but let us have an on-site visit next week to verify these facts,” he said.
Uganda will host the 2027 AFCON jointly with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda reportedly paid $30m to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the hosting rights.
The country is now in the final stages of preparation.
