Lango poised to lose shs30 million to replace ‘damaged’ fufa drum trophy

10 June 2024, 10:14 am

The Lango Sub region may need to spend 30 million shillings to replace the FUFA drum trophy, reportedly damaged in a road accident. The trophy, won by Lango province on 23rd March 2024, was being transported after a friendly match when a collision on the Lira-Dokolo highway resulted in the tragic deaths of three people.

By Simon Peter Odongo
Lira

People of Lango Sub region are most likely to spend 30 million shillings to replace a trophy that was recently won by Lango province team in the fufa drum tournament, but reportedly got damaged in a recent road accident.

On May 25, 2024, a Coaster vehicle with registration number UBL 851Z, owned by the Dokolo School of Nursing and Midwifery, was transporting Lango province players from a friendly match in Dokolo district. Tragically, it collided head-on with a Fuso lorry bearing registration number UBA 200J at Abutadi along the Lira-Dokolo highway, resulting in the immediate death of three individuals.

Lango province secured the trophy on March 23, 2024, following a 2-1 victory over Busoga province in the finals of the 4th edition of the FUFA drum tournament held at MTN Philip Omondi Stadium. Subsequently, the trophy was brought to Lango and ceremoniously received at the Mayor’s gardens in Lira city.

The Speaker of the Lango Cultural Institution Council of Owitong, Willy Omodo Kagera, accepted the trophy on behalf of the Lango cultural institution and handed it over to Mayor Sam Atul of Lira City Council, who placed it in his office.

However, according to reports, some leaders from Lango province retrieved the trophy from the mayor’s office and initiated a trophy tour across the Lango Sub-region. Moses Opio, Chairman of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Northern region, stated that they have no knowledge of any damage to the FUFA Drum trophy of Lango province.

Lira City Mayor Sam Atul confirmed that the Lango province executives had taken possession of the trophy from his office and have yet to return it.

The coordinator of Lango province, Charles Opio Olol, who was reportedly part of the group that retrieved the trophy from the mayor’s office, stated that he was unaware of any damage to the trophy resulting from the accident. He mentioned that he had recently been discharged from the hospital after sustaining injuries in the same accident.

Team Manager of Lango province, Ivan Opeto, expressed uncertainty about the condition of the trophy following the recent accident. Aisha Nalule, the Director of FUFA competitions, also confirmed that they had no information regarding any damage to the trophy of Lango province. Nalule referred Voice of Lango FM to Dan Obote Kagere, a FUFA Executive Committee Member, regarding the matter.

Obote Kagere stated that according to FUFA policy, the FUFA Drum trophy should be securely housed at the FUFA regional office, similar to how it was managed by West Nile province for safety reasons. He emphasised that for any movement of the trophy from one location to another, it must be transported separately by FUFA officials.

He also disclosed that the trophy was acquired at a cost of $7,000, approximately UGX 25.9 million, and in the event of damage, it would need to be replaced at the same cost.

Obote Kagere questioned the source of players for the Lango province team in the friendly match, noting that FUFA had not instructed any club to release players for Lango province games. Speaking anonymously, another FUFA executive mentioned that Lango province might need to budget over 30 million shillings for purchasing a replacement trophy due to potential price increases.