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There are 56 votes available and the two candidates will be in a race to 29 votes.
Gordon Gimisiriza is promising to have the National Basketball League run by clubs, teams playing home and away games and attracting more money into the sport of basketball.
Nasser Sserunjogi wants more time to implement his 2019 manifesto that was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic by about two years.
The two candidates will be facing off for presidency when Fuba goes to the polls Saturday afternoon at Hotel Africana.
“I have just decided to focus on my previous manifesto to make sure we consolidate and work more on those things,” Sserunjogi told Pulse Sports ahead of Saturday’s elective Annual General Meeting.
Sserunjogi’s 2019 manifesto focused on grassroots basketball, capacity building and, especially, finding a home for the federation.
The federation has in the last four years held five clinics for coaches and certified 56 coaches at Fiba Level One.
“We want to continue having these clinics more and more to make sure that at least for one to coach in any division you must a minimum level of qualification,” the incumbent said.
Primary, Secondary schools and university leagues are some of the products Sserunjogi was looking to introduce but these plans, he says, were hampered by the pandemic.
“We plan to have these running as soon as possible. We already held two Primary schools’ tournaments in 2019 and 2022.
“This year the plan is to have that league happen, starting with greater Kampala and we shall move from there.”
The process of getting Fuba a home is still in its infancy. The dream for the KIU Titans president is to have a Fuba technical center with several amenities that will help grow the game while also generating income for the federation.
“We have identified land, which is 20 acres on Entebbe road, we have applied for this land from government. The process is on going and hopefully, we get this land.
“Once this land is gotten the next step will be to source for funding. We want to have an indoor stadium with a minimum sitting capacity of 5000, four outdoor courts, a swimming pool, gym, Fuba offices, conference halls, hostels and others.”
Sserunjogi won the last election by garnering 37 votes against his opponent, Grace Kwizera’s 24.
The electorate has since shrunk with some teams, like Kyambogo Warriors, not able to swim through the Covid-19 waves.
There are 56 votes available and the two candidates will be in a race to 29 votes. Whoever gets to the 29-vote mark will have the mandate to run Fuba for the next four years.
Gumisiriza has played the game and is now finding his footing in management, currently the team manager of Division Two side Berkley Reloaded.
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He believes he will be an improvement on Sserunjogi in a lot of areas and thinks some things are much easier than the current regime makes them look.
Take an example of teams not being able to host games and having to play the league centrally.
“In two years, these teams should be able to run their own league. They should also be in position to host games,” Gumisiriza told this website.
Currently, Fuba runs the league using money from registration fees paid by clubs and sponsorships.
Clubs do not get a share of the gate collections. This is used by the federation to pay for game day operations throughout the season since money from registration fees is not enough and sponsorships are no guarantee.
“We have to start somewhere. Help clubs improve their home grounds and take the game to the fans.
“We also have to interest more influential people in the sport and I have already talked to a few Members of Parliament who are willing to come in and help.”
The 56 voters will have the opportunity to make their decision on Saturday. Whether it will be Sserunjogi continuing from where he will have left off or a new start with Gumisiriza in the big seat, that will be decided by close of business Saturday.
The bigger concern for Fuba should, however, be on the number of unopposed candidates in the election.
Hudson Ssegamwenge, Aggrey Mbonye and Arnold Katabi will all return to office unopposed as Vice President -Administration, Vice President -Finance and Vice President -Marketing respectively.
Posts of Youths Commissioner and Vice President -Technical and Competitions also have Patricia Ayebare and Mande Baker Kyambadde unopposed.
The only other contested slot will have Racheal Atuhairwe Ainamasiko facing off with Mariam Birungi to replace Sandra Munduru Ulanga as Women Commissioner.
Fuba elections
Candidates
President
Nasser Sserunjogi, Gordon Gumisiriza
Vice President -Administration
Hudson Ssegamwenge (unopposed)
Vice President -Finance
Aggrey Mbonye (unopposed)
Vice President -Marketing
Arnold Katabi (unopposed)
Vice President -Technical and Competitions
Mande Bake Kyambadde (unopposed)
Women Commission
Racheal Atuhairwe Ainamasiko, Mariam Birungi
Youths Commission
Patricia Ayebare (unopposed)
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