Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa demands FUFA to pay unpaid league and cup prize money

• Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa questions FUFA’s ability to deliver the promised UGX 3.4B in the new Uganda Premier League tournament format.
• He cites unpaid prize money and scrapped travel facilitation for continental competitions as evidence of financial indiscipline.

Former FUFA president and CEO of Vipers SC, Dr Lawrence Mulindwa has reiterated how his club is not ready or willing to join the newly implemented Uganda Premier League format. The format which was introduced at the start of this season is a tournament but with increased prize money.

Vipers together with SC Villa and NEC initially jointly rejected the format but the other two clubs later conceded to FUFA under Eng. Moses Magogo and have started playing. With two games already played, Vipers is still hesitant.

Speaking to the press, Mulindwa expressed his doubts about FUFA’s promises in this new format. He said that the Federation first promised clubs UGX 2.5b shillings and then later changed to UGX 3.4b shillings.

“Clubs were first promised UGX 2.5b shillings and then later changed to UGX 3.4b shillings… where is FUFA going to get this money?” he questioned.

He wondered where FUFA is going to get this money to give the clubs when they haven’t even yet paid the prize money of winning the Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup to Vipers who were the champions of the two competitions last season.

Additionally, the sports mogul said that FUFA some gears ago promised to facilitate all clubs who qualify for Continental competitions with tickets. However, these were scrapped and are no longer provided despite the Federation receiving provision for them in the national budgets.

“FUFA had promised to facilitate all clubs who qualify for Continental competitions with tickets, but these were scrapped despite budget provisions,” Mulindwa noted.

Mulindwa said that if they don’t have the discipline to effect the little they have been running on previously, he wonders how they will fulfill these gigantic promises.

“If they don’t have the discipline to effect the little they have been running on previously, how will they fulfill these gigantic promises?” he asked.

Vipers hesitation to take part in the UPL has led to divided opinions amongst football fans and other stakeholders. It’s awaited to see if Mulindwa will come to a compromise with FUFA or if the format which has already commenced will be scrapped to accommodate Vipers’ demands.