FUFA President Moses Magogo has called on stakeholders to deepen their support for women’s football, saying the sport is now poised for professional growth after years of steady development.
Speaking at the FUFA Women Super League Commercial Strategy launch at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Magogo reflected on the early days of women’s football in Uganda, when girls had few opportunities and often had to play alongside boys.
“Women’s football has had a very long journey here in this country. At a time when there were few girls who wanted to play football, the only option they had was to play with the boys,” he said.
Magogo noted that the gradual formation of teams and competitions, along with the emergence of stars, set the stage for the current push towards structured, professional competitions.
Highlighting international recognition, he revealed that FIFA selected Uganda, alongside Romania, as the only two countries globally to pilot the women’s football commercialisation project.
“This shows the confidence FIFA has in what we have done here. We want to thank FIFA and convey our appreciation to President Gianni Infantino on behalf of the football people of Uganda,” Magogo added.
He said FUFA’s progress has been strengthened by improved commercial capacity, government support, and increased FIFA funding, which have collectively enabled the federation to professionalise competitions and strengthen programmes.
“Sometimes progress is slow, but that is the right way. Football needs money at all levels,” he explained, adding that legal protection and proper infrastructure are vital for commercial growth.
Magogo also pointed to a cultural shift, where communities now accept that girls can play football, pursue education through the sport, and even earn a living.
“For these girls to develop properly, we need professional clubs, and for that to happen, we need resources. Football does not come cheap,” he said, urging stakeholders to continue supporting the girl child and investing in women’s football.