Uganda Premier League side URA FC, together with the FUFA, have been officially recognised by FIFA for outstanding leadership and long-term vision after receiving the prestigious Best Strategic Planning Award on the sidelines of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
The continental showpiece, which climaxed on January 18, 2026 in Rabat and was won by Senegal, provided the perfect backdrop for the historic moment as URA FC Chairman Dr. Micah Gaalya and Chief Executive Officer Allan Munaaba received the award on behalf of the club, alongside FUFA President Hon. Moses Magogo, from FIFA Director of Member Associations in Africa, Gelson Fernandes.
The visit also provided the club executives with a practical dry run of modern pre and post matchday operations, while offering them exposure to contemporary football technologies and state-of-the-art football infrastructure to enable them to continuously improve standards both on and off the pitch.
Beyond the award ceremony, the URA FC Chairman and CEO also got the rare opportunity to visit FIFA Africa Regional office in Morocco, where they engaged with football development officials and gained deeper insight into global football administration structures, governance models and high-level operational frameworks.
This recognition crowns the collective efforts of FUFA and its member clubs in strengthening football governance and institutional development, placing Ugandan football firmly among Africa’s best performers off the pitch.
A Continental Achievement Rooted in FUFA’s Club Pro Agenda
The award traces its origins to a FIFA-organised club professionalisation program of 2024, which brought together 210 top clubs from across Africa. Among the participants were continental heavyweights such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, and Young Africans.
Each club was required to develop and submit a comprehensive strategic plan, addressing their respective national on field and off field Challenges and opportunities.
The submissions were later subjected to a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a panel of ten independent FIFA-appointed experts in Switzerland.
In June 2025, the results were announced and URA FC, a member of the FUFA emerged as the top-ranked club, having been rated best by all ten evaluators, a rare and emphatic endorsement of both the club’s structures and FUFA’s governance model.
Speaking after receiving the award, URA FC Chairman Dr. Micah Gaalya described the honour as a milestone moment for both the club and Ugandan football.
“This recognition by FIFA is a powerful validation of the work being done under FUFA’s Club Professionalisation Programme. It confirms that Ugandan clubs, and URA FC in particular, are building not just competitive teams, but sustainable institutions. We are proud to represent Uganda at this level.”
URA FC CEO Allan Munaaba noted that “This achievement is the result of deliberate strategy, strong governance structures and the clear direction provided by FUFA through the Club Pro Agenda. Being ranked best among 210 clubs across Africa is both humbling and motivating.”
FUFA also received special praise for its leadership role, with recognition going to FUFA President Hon. Moses Magogo, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, and all Uganda Premier League clubs for collectively embracing the professionalisation journey.
FIFA’s Director of Member Associations in Africa, Gelson Fernandes, praised FUFA and URA FC for setting a standard worth emulating. He noted “FUFA’s Club Professionalisation framework is a strong example of how federations can drive sustainable change. URA FC’s strategic plan stood out for its clarity, ambition and practicality, and it shows what is possible when clubs work within a strong national association structure.”
As part of the recognition, FIFA and FUFA will work together with URA FC to organise a high-level workshop/seminar where best practices in club governance, strategic planning and professionalisation will be shared with stakeholders from across the football ecosystem.
The seminar will bring together clubs, administrators and football leaders, with official invitations to be issued at a date to be jointly agreed upon.
This historic honour not only elevates URA FC’s status on the continental stage but, more importantly, reinforces FUFA’s vision and the collective progress of Ugandan clubs under the Club Pro Agenda, proof that with the right structures, leadership and commitment, Ugandan football can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best on the continent.