The second edition of the Local Football Appreciation Awards (LFA Awards) has been officially launched at Chint Centre along Jinja Road in Kampala, with organisers promising a bigger and more inclusive celebration of Uganda’s football industry.
After the maiden edition in 2025, this year’s awards have been expanded from 30 to 39 categories to recognise more contributors across the local game.
The launch, hosted by Gystin Angarukiremu, brought together a notable panel that included Vipers Sporting Director Charles Masembe, football analyst and KCCA supporter Aldrine Nsubuga, CHINT Head of Corporate and Public Affairs John Kimbowa, and Leero Sports Managing Director Raymond Kayungirizi, who represented the organisers.
The awards ceremony is set for June, with organisers also introducing a Legends Dinner as a pre event on June 5th aimed at bringing together key figures in the football industry.
Before it all will be nominees and voting taking place in May till the D-day.
Speaking during the launch, Kayungirizi said the dinner is meant to help sustain the awards while creating opportunities for interaction within the football fraternity.
“We are organising the dinner because we want the awards to be sustainable. The football industry has many people who can support such initiatives — retirees, established stars and young people who want to be inspired,” Kayungirizi said.
He added that the event will give upcoming professionals, especially women entering sports media, a rare chance to interact with figures they have admired for years.
“Young professionals will have the opportunity to sit with people they have watched on television and learn from them. That kind of interaction is important for the growth of the industry,” he noted.
The dinner will take place on the same day as the awards with tickets priced at Shs100,000, a contribution the organisers say will help the football community support the initiative.
Kayungirizi also explained that the awards focus on appreciation rather than simply naming the best performers.
“Sometimes your best is not my best, but once someone is nominated it means they have made a meaningful contribution to the game,” he said.
“We have also added new categories to celebrate different aspects of football so that no stakeholder is left out.”
Sports analyst Aldrine Nsubuga welcomed the initiative and emphasized the need to recognize football supporters.
“I always say I am first a KCCA supporter before anything else, and I carry that proudly,” Nsubuga said.
“As fans, we believe awards like these should exist. But I would also love to see fans recognised because they are often the most underrated people in football.”
He explained that supporters remain loyal to their clubs regardless of results.
“For players and administrators it is work, but for fans it is about heart and devotion. Even when teams struggle, fans continue to show up and support,” he said.
Nsubuga also praised companies that choose to associate with football, noting that such support plays a key role in growing the sport.
“Football people appreciate brands that support the game. When someone in a position of influence brings sponsorship into football, it makes a big difference,” he added.
He also urged journalists and professionals within the game to openly identify with the teams they support.
“Football starts with identity. There is nothing wrong with declaring the club you support. It is pride and part of the culture of the game,” Nsubuga said.
With more categories and new initiatives like the Legends Dinner, the 2026 Local Football Appreciation Awards aim to celebrate the many people whose efforts on and off the pitch continue to shape Ugandan football.
