Lt. Gen. James Mugira Challenges NEC FC to Aim Higher as Club Celebrates Historic 2025/2026 Season at End-of-Season Dinner

NEC FC on Tuesday evening held a colorful end-of-season dinner at Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala, bringing together club officials, players, technical staff, sponsors, supporters, and invited guests to celebrate the club’s achievements during the 2025/2026 campaign while laying out ambitious plans for the future.

The event served as both a celebration and a moment of reflection following a season in which NEC FC competed on the continental stage for the first time, finished fifth in the Uganda Premier League, reached the quarterfinals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, and continued to strengthen its growing reputation as one of Uganda’s emerging football forces.

Speakers at the dinner included the club patron and Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation, Hon. Lt. Gen. James Mugira, NEC FC Chairman Eng. Brian Buhanda, NEC FC CEO Okorotum Jonathan, and the Guest of Honour, Namutebi Shi, who represented the club’s lead sponsors OPPEIN Uganda and Chint Uganda as Managing Director.

Mugira Demands Bigger Ambitions

In his address, Lt. Gen. Mugira challenged NEC FC to return stronger next season after what he described as a campaign that fell below the club’s expectations despite ending in a respectable fifth position.

“Those of you who know me, my standards are always very high, and I always want number one,” Mugira told guests.

He reminded players and technical staff that the club had entered the season with high expectations following NEC FC’s impressive second-place finish in the previous campaign and participation in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“You remember when we were here last year, all of you promised me that we would have to march in the streets of Kampala with our trophy. This has not been possible,” he said.

While acknowledging that finishing fifth was not a disastrous result, the NEC FC patron emphasized that the club must now consistently compete for titles.

“Compared to the previous season, our performance has declined somehow from the second position to the fifth position. Of course, that’s not bad. But as I said, we need to do better by becoming the first,” he stressed.

Mugira, however, praised the club’s supporters popularly known as “The DieHards” for their unwavering loyalty throughout the season, including traveling long distances to support the team during away fixtures. “

To our fans, thank you for your loyalty. You filled the stadiums wherever you were. You traveled long distances,” he said, specifically referencing fans who traveled to Yumbe to support the team.

The NEC FC patron also congratulated players who earned national team call-ups and those who received individual awards during the dinner ceremony.

In a lighter moment, Mugira joked about Arsenal’s trophy drought while referencing NEC FC’s missed title ambitions before revealing his personal support for Manchester United due to his time studying at the University of Manchester.

Quoting the late Nelson Mandela, Mugira encouraged the club not to be discouraged by setbacks.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall,” he quoted.

He concluded by rallying the club and supporters to prepare for a stronger comeback next season.

“As the DieHards, there is no retreat, there is no surrender,” he declared.

Sponsors Reaffirm Commitment to NEC FC

Guest of Honour Ms. Namutebi Shi used the occasion to reaffirm OPPEIN Uganda’s long-term commitment to NEC FC, describing the partnership as far more than a sponsorship arrangement.

“This is not just a sponsorship. It’s a family,” she said.

Namutebi revealed that the relationship between OPPEIN Uganda and NEC FC had been built over time through mutual trust and shared ambitions.

Reflecting on her business journey, she described herself as a self-made professional who had learned various skills including electrical work, accounting, sales, and interior design. She humorously added that sponsoring NEC FC had now challenged her to become “a self-made football fan.”

She also addressed concerns raised by some NEC FC supporters who felt the sponsors had not given the club enough attention compared to KCCA FC.

“Please don’t blame my team. Let me take the blame,” she said, promising to introduce new performance indicators requiring her staff to attend NEC FC matches and improve social media engagement around the club.

Namutebi emphasized that the sponsors remained fully committed to NEC FC and hinted at renewing the sponsorship partnership.

“But yes, we are ready,” she said. “We are ready to move with you on this journey to the top, to the very top.”

She further challenged the players and technical staff to aim higher next season.

“We want continental football. We want trophies. We are ready to walk the journey with you,” she declared.

Using a football analogy inspired by OPPEIN’s construction business, Namutebi compared building a football team to constructing a home.

“You need a strong foundation — that’s the defense. Functional systems — that’s the midfield. And beautiful finishes — those are attacks,” she explained.

She praised NEC FC for building what she described as a “strong and stylish” football structure capable of achieving bigger success in the future.

Buhanda Pushes Financial Sustainability Agenda

NEC FC Chairman Eng. Brian Buhanda used his speech to outline the club’s long-term vision centered on financial sustainability, professionalism, and competitive success.

“This is a family gathering,” Buhanda said, emphasizing unity and collective responsibility within the club.

Reflecting on NEC FC’s fifth-place league finish, he described the performance as satisfactory but below the standards the club hopes to achieve.

“We passed, but we did not attain a distinction,” he remarked.

The Chairman challenged players, coaches, and administrators to critically assess the season and improve ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign.

One of the key themes of Buhanda’s address was the need for NEC FC to become financially self-sustaining as the club approaches its ninth year of existence.

He stressed that the club must evolve into a viable football business capable of operating sustainably while remaining competitive on the pitch.

Despite the financial demands of the season, Buhanda revealed that NEC FC successfully completed the campaign without accumulating salary arrears or unpaid obligations to players and technical staff.

“Our sponsors have enabled us to complete the season successfully without outstanding obligations. That support has been critical,” he said.

The Chairman paid tribute to sponsors including OPPEIN, Plascon, Oriental Ventures, and various NEC subsidiaries for their support throughout the season.

He also reflected on NEC FC’s CAF Confederation Cup experience, describing it as a valuable lesson that exposed the club to higher standards of football competition.

Buhanda further praised the media, football regulators, and fans for contributing to the club’s growing profile both locally and internationally.

CEO Okorotum Highlights Historic Milestones

NEC FC CEO Okorotum Jonathan described the 2025/2026 campaign as one of the most significant seasons in the club’s history.

“This season was special,” he said.

The CEO highlighted NEC FC’s historic debut in the CAF Confederation Cup, where the club faced Kenyan side Nairobi United.

NEC FC secured a 2-2 draw in Kampala before earning another 1-1 draw in Nairobi but narrowly exited the competition on the away goals rule.

“Our first experience on the continental stage showed the character and ambition of this club,” Okorotum said.

Domestically, the CEO revealed that NEC FC played 30 league matches, winning 14 and drawing 11 to finish fifth on the table.

The club also enjoyed a strong run in the Stanbic Uganda Cup, keeping four consecutive clean sheets before suffering a quarterfinal exit on penalties.

Okorotum praised the club’s efforts to strengthen its technical structure through the appointment of head coach Kaddu Badru Mukasa, his assistant coach, a goalkeeping coach, and several new signings who improved the team’s second-round performances.

He also highlighted off-field progress, including the appointment of Nassali Catherine as Head of Media and Communications — becoming the first woman to lead the department at NEC FC.

The CEO further celebrated NEC FC’s growing recognition within Ugandan football after several club members earned nominations in different football awards categories.

“These nominations show that NEC FC is gaining recognition across different areas of the game,” he said.

Okorotum urged fans and stakeholders to continue supporting the club as it seeks even greater achievements next season.

“With the foundation we have built, we are aiming even higher,” he said.

Players Honoured at Awards Ceremony

The evening also featured an awards ceremony recognizing NEC FC’s standout performers during the 2025/2026 season. Among the major winners were:

Defender of the Season — Warren Buule

Forward of the Season — Richard Basangwa

Club MVP — Tonny Atukunda

Goalkeeper of the Season — Hannington Ssebwalunyo

Fans’ Player of the Season — Hannington Ssebwalunyo

Goal of the Season — Emmanuel Kulanga for his strike against SC Villa at Lugogo

The dinner concluded with renewed optimism and determination among players, management, sponsors, and supporters as NEC FC prepares for the 2026/2027 season with ambitions of competing for trophies, returning to continental football, and building a sustainable football institution capable of long-term success.