FUFA National Teams Officer Paul Mukatabala has successfully completed the inaugural FIFA-Africa National Teams Manager Course, a six-week programme aimed at strengthening the professional capacity of national team administrators across the continent.
The course, organised by FIFA, ran from March 9 to April 16, 2026, and blended online learning with an in-person module at the FIFA-Africa Regional Office in Rabat, Morocco.
The first phase involved three-and-a-half weeks of virtual study, before participants convened in Rabat from April 12 to 16 for the final on-site sessions.
Mukatabala represented the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and completed the programme alongside fellow national team administrators from across Africa.
The course was divided into five modules covering key aspects of team management and football administration. Topics included the role of the team manager, player eligibility and naturalisation within international football frameworks.
Participants also studied compliance and administration, crisis management, budgeting, match organisation and advance party responsibilities.
Other areas of focus included FIFA funding structures for continental bodies, regional bodies and member associations, as well as the operational management of FIFA matches and the FIFA Series.
The programme also highlighted the continued growth and increasing importance of women’s football as part of FIFA’s global development agenda.
Speaking after completing the course, Mukatabala described the experience as “very enriching and resourceful.”
“Plenty of useful knowledge that makes a Team Manager more holistic as a person and an administrator, as I emerged out of this course all for the better in terms of how to relate with the FA administration, as well as the teams, including players and technical staff,” he said.
He added that the opportunity to interact with colleagues from other federations offered valuable insight.
“It was intriguing relating with other Federations’ Team Managers and getting an insight into some of the challenges they encounter on the job, and how they manage intricate situations.”
Mukatabala’s participation marks another step in FUFA’s efforts to improve professionalism and administrative standards within Uganda’s national teams setup, in line with FIFA’s broader commitment to capacity building among member associations.
