Masindi Municipal Council has backtracked on its decision to impose a 10% fee on Kitara Football Club’s gate collections for hosting home games at the municipality stadium. The move comes after Kitara FC President, Deo Kasozi, raised concerns about the financial implications on the club’s activities.
In a statement released by the Office of the Town Clerk, Masindi Municipal Council clarified the situation. The statement highlighted that the relationship between the council and Kitara FC, as well as Booma Football Club, is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) set to expire on June 30th, 2024.
The decision, initially made during a council meeting on March 19th, 2024, is now subject to negotiations with both Kitara and Booma Football Clubs before implementation, effective from July 1st, 2024.
The statement urged the public to remain calm and avoid making derogatory remarks against council members, emphasizing that the current fee structure will remain unchanged for the time being. Kitara Football Club will continue to pay Ugandan Shillings Two Hundred Thousand (UGX 200,000/=) per game, while Booma Football Club will pay Ugandan Shillings One Hundred Fifty Thousand (UGX 150,000/=) per game.
The Town Clerk of Masindi Municipal Council, Nyamugo Francis, reiterated the municipality’s commitment to fostering a cooperative relationship with local football clubs while ensuring sustainable revenue generation for both parties.
This reversal comes at a time Kitara FC increased gate charges for fans from UGx 5,000 to UGX 10,000 citing the need for additional funding to run the run the club. The fee increment takes effect immediately with their home against Bul FC.