Motherwell and Uganda Cranes defender Bevis Mugabi has been linked with a move to Scottish Premiership side Celtic.

Celtic is currently trying to rebuild after going trophy-less last season with a need of more physicality in the heart of their defence.

According to The Scotsman, Bevis is a perfect fit of what coach Ange Postecoglou is looking for bar other defenders Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh.

Celtic brought in twelve new players overall in the summer, ten on a permanent basis and two on loan.

Bevis would be an option for Christopher Jullien, as the latter works out his return to the fray following a career threatening injury.

Reports indicate Postecoglou’s intentions are to bolster the squad with enough fire power to add to their Scottish League Cup honours this term.

Bevis has featured in 19 Premiership matches for Motherwell this season. He has found the back of the net twice, the same number he scored last season in 23 games.

Sports events in Uganda will now operate at full capacity but with the observance of Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.Ps) according to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

This development follows his decision to fully open the economy after two years of full and partial lockdown since March 2020.

The sector had been completed shut down during the first wave of the COVID 19. However, the entity was partially opened as events returned to the scene but with no fans.

In a speech on 31st of December 2021, Museveni announced that “cinema halls and sports events” would be “allowed to operate with SOPs” with immediate effect.

The Ministry of Education and Sports was however tasked with the duty of regulating proceeds to make sure the re-opening is smooth.

Sports events will now return with capacity to hold as many fans depending on the ocassion.

Kampala Regional League entity Impala Hill Football Club has parted ways with their head coach Allan Kabonge.

The developments follow their 4-1 home victory over Nawanku at Mulago Playground, Kampala during the Uganda Cup preliminary round.

The club say there were forced to pull the trigger due to Kabonge’s unprofessional conduct where he has been implicated in several repeated counts and breach of the employment contract.

Kabonge is accused of allegedly soliciting money from players’ allowances and salaries in a bid to be considered for selection.

He is also thought of having been negotiating footballing deals with Sports Club Villa and three Impala Hill contracted players (Solomon Wafula, Martin Nsubuga and Jamir Murhusin).

“Any dealings done with him (Allan Kabonge) on behalf of the club are at owners risk,” the club wrote in a statement.

“I have always followed the do’s and don’ts of coaching in line with our coach’s guide,” Kabonge replied to the allegations when contacted.

Kabonge has over the years handled Onduparaka, Nkumba University, Entebbe, Masavu, Lira United, Busiro Ssaza, Katwe United, Five Stars Football Club – Entebbe, Paidha Black Angels and lately Impala Hill.

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has appointed Shawn Mubiru as Professional Leagues’ Manager.

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Sports Club Villa takes his new role effective 1st January 2021 and will report to the FUFA Competitions Director, Aisha Nalule.

He will be in charge of Uganda Premier League, FUFA Big League and FUFA Women Super League. The appointment was confirmed via the Federation’s website.

It is the objective of FUFA and its members to oversee the growth of professional football in Uganda. FUFA has identified that there are opportunities and challenges with in the dream to create a professional football industry in Uganda. In order to address the challenges and harness the opportunities, FUFA has recruited Mr. Mubiru Shawn as the FUFA Professional Leagues’ Manager effective 1st January 2022. He will report to the FUFA Competitions Director.

FUFA Statement

“We believe he will add more value to the game and this specific area of the FUFA Professional Leagues,” Ahmed Hussein, the FUFA Communications Director added.

Tasks of the Professional Leagues’ Manager:

• Work hand-in-hand with the Uganda Premier League and the Professional Clubs
• Design, install and implement the FUFA Strategy on Professional Leagues
• Undertake FUFA Licensing
• Undertake FUFA Clubs’ Pro Agenda
• Undertake the implementation of the FUFA Community Clubs Programme
• Engage and assist to design the long-term strategies of the Professional Clubs where none exists
• Evaluate and recommend changes to the long-term strategies of the Professional Clubs where they exist
• Design and implement the regulations for the issuance of the FUFA Professional Club Certificate

Management of Tooro United Football Club has terminated the employment contract of their head coach Edward Golola.

The club’s decision was communicated by the club Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hasheem Rayyan Sayyd, the reason for sacking being poor performance.

The club statement explained that situation at the club, detailing how the institution was taking steps in the wrong direction.

As you are aware that the club performance has deteriorated both in the field of play, training and your role as head coach of the club has left a lot to desired which has put the club in a very worrying position in the league. Therefore, management has deemed it necessary to suspend you with immediate effect as review of the your contract is done.

Tooro United Football Club Statement

The former Vipers and Kitara head coach had overseen the side in 13 games this season, managing one win, a draw and 11 losses.

The side is currently rock bottom on the log with four points, having scored only 9 goals and conceded as many as 34 goals.

Tooro United makes the trip to the West Nile city of Arua to face Onduparaka next on 8^th January 2022.

League newcomers Gaddafi FC shocked Mbarara City 1-0 at Kakyeka Stadium in one of the two games played on Wednesday.

Amos Kirya’s first-half goal handed Gaddafi FC their first away win of the season, having drawn four and lost twice in their six visits.

Kirya made an impressive run leaving Mbarara City defence for dead before finishing neatly past goalkeeper Muhammad Ssekeba.

Mbarara City will rue missed chances, especially in the second half. Seiri Arigumaho rattled the crossbar from close range when he was set up by Jude Ssemugabi.

The result helps Gaddafi improve to 9th place with 17 points while Mbarara City remains 11th with 14 points.

Next Up

Mbarara City visits KCCA FC on 5th January 2022 while Gaddafi welcomes URA FC a day earlier.

Starting XIs

Mbarara City XI: Muhammad Sekebba, Jasper Aheebwa, Steven Othieno, Souleymane Bamba, Karim Ramathan, Pistis Barenge, Bebe Swalik, Solomon Okwalinga, Jude Ssemugabi, Seiri Arigumaho, Henry Kitegenyi

Gaddafi XI: Ronald Mutebi, Sula Mpanga, Paul Musamali, Bakali Magumba, Karenzi Buchochera, Franco Onen, Amos Kirya, Yunus Sibira, Faisal Muwawu, Ronald Bithum, Brian Kalumba

Police Football Club registered their third consecutive win with a 5-0 hammering of struggling Soltilo Bright Stars at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.

Goals from Juma Balinya, Herman Wasswa, Eric Senjobe, Muwadda Mawejje, and Emmanuel Mugume were enough as head coach Abdallah Mubiru returned to the dugout.

The Cops dominated the game played under the hot sun at Lugogo as they took a 2-0 lead into the break.

Bright Stars couldn’t cop with Police’s pressing midfield led by the partnership of skipper Tonny Mawejje and Missi Diego.

Mawejje played a one-two with Eddie Kapampa to set up Juma Balinya who put the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute of the game.

Muwadda doubled their lead in the 18th minute thanks to an assist from Tonny Mawejje.

Simon Tamale kept out Balinya’s effort in the 20th minute and a few minutes later Nelson Senkatuka’s strike for Bright Stars was ruled for offside.

In the second stanza, Bright Stars made a double substitution bringing in Jamil Nvule and Augustine Kacancu who improved on their midfield as they dominated the second stanza.

Police FC were put on the back foot and in the 50th minute they almost conceded from a Ssenkatuka freekick but Ikara parried it away for a corner. Joseph Sentume defended brilliantly to block a shot for Joseph Janjali in the 52nd minute.

Police FC resorted to a counter attacking football and it paid off with corners, in the 65th minute Eric Senjobe headed in a corner from Ruben Kimera for a 3-0 lead.

Herman Wasswa scored off a Ruben Kimera long cross for the fourth goal in the 74th minute and later turned provider to set up Mugume in the 92nd minute as they completed a 5-0 scoreline to claim the three points on home ground.

Starting XIs

Police FC XI: Tom Ikara (GK), Eddy Kapampa, Eric Ssenjobe, Joseph Sentume, Missi Diego Semugera, George Kiryowa, Isaac Kiberu, Tonny Mawejje (C), Juma Balinya, Muwadda Mawejje, Arafat Kakonge

Bright Stars XI: Simon Tamale, Andrew Kaggwa, Simon Ssemayange, Allan Katwe, Derrick Ngobi, Andrew Kyambadde, Derrick Kiggundu, Marvin Youngman, Kazuto Kushida, Joseph Janjali, Nelson Senkatuka

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President Moses Magogo has vowed to get tougher on acts of violence, match fixing, hooliganism in local football.

This follows a public outcry after a Uganda Premier League match between KCCA and Onduparaka was abandoned due to crowd trouble at the Green Light Stadium in Arua a couple of days ago.

There was a halt of proceedings after fans sat on the field while protesting a referee’s decision to award KCCA a late penalty in a match that was level 2-2.

Tear gas and live rounds were fired as the angry mob hunted visiting players, also shattering windscreens of the KCCA bus.

Since the happenings, an official report is yet to be filed by officials but FUFA has come out to condemn the acts of violence, hooliganism, poor officiation, drug abuse, bribery, corruption and so much more.

In a statement released by Magogo, FUFA is vowing to take institute harsher measures to clamp down the vices.

“Talking about Violence and Hooliganism, there is no justification whatsoever for actions of violence and hooliganism whether verbally or physically,” it read.

“We must all be ashamed and must condemn it in the strongest terms. It is like cutting the brunch of the tree we are sitting on.

“The players need to be paid and the money should come from the brand and so are the referees and the clubs. The UPL, FUFA, Media and fans all need a better brand to make the necessary sales to get our clubs better

“As FUFA we have a duty to provide proper refereeing and we need to review our services provided to the league.

“We also have a duty to protect the referees who on some occasions of verbal or physical violence have been proven right in their decision making. We have not favoured nor feared applying corrective measures.

“We have put in place competent judicial processes and persons to administer sporting justice. The multitude of the recent cases of corrective measures being applied to protect the game are also an indicator that the judicial bodies are now dealing head-on with the infringement of the rules and have hitherto gone unchecked.

“We ALL have a duty to first and foremost condemn in the strongest terms;

1. Verbal and physical violence and hooliganism
2. Intentional incorrect refereeing decisions

“These barbaric, animalistic and inhumane actions should never be tolerated nor justified by anyone who wishes the game any good.

“As FUFA we will continue and even get tougher to institute measures to protect the game with the support of you ALL.”

1. We shall not allow Verbal and Physical Violence and Hooliganism in the Beautiful Game

2. We shall not allow incorrect interpretation and application of the Laws of the Game

3. We shall train, facilitate and protect the Referees pic.twitter.com/X3DRUaPLog

— Moses Hassim Magogo (@MosesMagogo) December 29, 2021

Eric Kambale scored twice as Express Football Club registered their sixth victory of the season on Tuesday at Wankulukuku.

George Ssenkaba handed the Red Eagles the lead after pouncing onto a loose ball to fire past the hapless Michael Nantamu in the Busoga goal.

Late in the contest, Mahad Yaya Kakooza made a lung-bursting run from the halfway line, made his way into the area, and slotted in the fourth.

It was a comfortable outing for the Red Eagles who have struggled to score goals all season.

Against a poor Busoga side, the Red Eagles looked comfortable throughout and will only be disappointed that the scoreline was not more appealing. The front four of Kambale, Ssenkaba, Martin Kizza, and Godfrey Lwesibawa were too hot to handle for a Busoga defence that was always suspect.

Busoga were on the back foot for most of the game and barely tried to score. Laban Tibiita and Edrine Opaala both tested Joel Mutakubwa in the Express goal but their efforts were comfortable for the custodian.

Victory takes Express into 4th spot with 23 points from 13 games. Busoga stays second from the bottom with seven points.

Next Up

Express will be away to Tooro United on Tuesday, 4th January while Busoga host Onduparaka the following day.

Starting XIs

Express FC: Joel Mutakubwa (GK), Deus Bukenya, Enock Walusimbi, Sadiq Ssekyembe, Murushid Juuko, Mahad Yaya Kakooza, Nicholas Kasozi, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Eric Kambale, Martin Kiiza, George Ssenkaba.

Busoga United: Michael Nantamu (GK), Peter Onzima, George Kalyowa, Frederick Ngalo, Douglas Bithum, Elvis Ngonde, Anthony Mayanja, Edrine Opaala, Anwar Ntege, Laban Tibiita, Ronald Kasamba.

Ugandan coaches Abdallah Mubiru and Wasswa Bossa have pledged to change the way they handle crises and their communication models after going through FUFA’s orientation course.

The duo were recruited the exercise about on communication, branding, crisis management in coaching, relations between coaches and media after their utterances that the FUFA Disciplinary Panel found to be putting the game in disrepute.

Bbosa was convicted in the aftermath of a 2-0 defeat to Arua Hill on match day one while Mubiru’s comments in the 1-0 defeat to Onduparaka in Arua saw him get punished as well.

Speaking after a session organised by Fufa Communications Director Ahmed Hussein praised their resolve to change for the better.

“We are thankful to Fufa especially in the communications department for this wonderful session,” said Mubiru.

“Sometimes, we have reacted in a manner which is unwarranted and following this session, there will surely be change after the lessons learnt,” he added.

Bbosa also said; “It has been a great session and moving forward, I will change. I have learnt that as a coach, I have so many people with influence with my acts be it fans, players and even family.”