StarTimes Uganda premier league
Friday, 4:30pm
URA vs Tooro United, Namboole (4:30pm)
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa through their Rwenzori mineral water brand are the new URA FC official drink (water) partners.
The function held on Thursday at the institution’s head quarters in Nakawa was graced by the third FUFA Vice president and Minister of youth and children affairs Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi as guest of honor, URA Commissioner Corporate services (Acting Commissioner General) Herbert Rusoke, club chairman James Kizza, club CEO Ivan Kakembo among other club officials.
The sponsorship package, as unveiled by the Coca Cola country sales director Ivan Oboth, is worth Shs60m and will run for two years.
The four-time Uganda champions will get 200 boxes of Rwenzori water per month worth Shs20m and Shs40m cash.
“We are happy to be part of URA FC and URA as an institution. Coca Cola is reputable brand that fulfills its obligation of paying taxes. We are into football as FIFA partners globally and also fund the Copa Coca cola secondary school football competition. This is just a start but we look forward to bigger partnerships with URA FC,” noted Oboth.
Nakiwala reiterated need for empowerment of the club secretariat and its independence in management of the club –with the URA institution leadership doing the supervision.
“It is Fufa’s licensing requirement that the CEO is the chief accountant of the club. He must be a signatory on the club account and we have already written to URA FC to ensure that,” noted Nakiwala, who hailed URA leadership for facilitating the club and more specifically the secretariat.
Club chairman Kizza said that the club is working on the independence of the secretariat after news circulating that the secretariat was early this week attacked by security personel who picked all financial documents on orders of institution’s senior officer.
It is alleged that there has been misappropriation of club resources and the secretariat having an independent account was met with strong resistance by senior URA officials.
Rusoke noted that sponsoring URA FC does not give a company exemption from tax payment and that as an institution, we can only partner with tax paying companies as per the laws of the country.
Meanwhile URA FC returns to action this Friday against Tooro United seeking their second win of the season. The 9th placed side has lost, won and drawn in their last three league fixtures while 13th placed Tooro United has won once and lost thrice.
The visiting side will not only miss head coach Wasswa Bbosa, but also three of their star players; Godfrey Lwesibawa, Ibrahim Kayiwa and Paddy Muhumuza, who were banned for two competitive matches by the FUFA competition disciplinary panel for allegedly attacking referee Brian Nsubuga Miiro in their match against Viper SC at St Mary’s stadium, Kitende early this month.
