The Uganda Woodball Federation has unveiled a Shs3.973 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, with competitions, equipment, capacity building, development programmes and grassroots expansion identified as key spending priorities.
The budget was presented during the Federation’s Annual General Assembly held at Jevine Hotel in Kampala, where members also considered the activity report, financial statements, achievements and alignment requirements under the 2023 Sports Act.
Federation president Mark Paul Kayongo said the budget had been deliberately structured to strengthen both elite competition and the sport’s grassroots foundation.
“We have prioritised key areas of funding in the budget. Competitions, equipment, capacity building, project programmes and grassroots will take a big portion from our budget,” Kayongo said.
Government support remains the federation’s principal source of financing, contributing a projected Shs3.045 billion to the annual budget.
The second-largest contribution is Shs416.8 million from the Chinese Embassy, earmarked for implementation of the Woodball Development Project.
Other projected income includes Shs70 million in sponsorships, Shs45.99 million in other income, Shs42.38 million from sporting activities, Shs33.5 million from membership-related revenue and Shs20 million from equipment sales.
The federation also plans to invest in new equipment manufacturing capacity, while its competition calendar includes national and international championships, the Woodball League, beach and corporate circuits, university and schools championships and Women’s Day competitions.
World Cup success
The federation’s financial and development plans come after Uganda’s impressive performance at the 2026 Woodball World Cup in Malaysia, where the national team collected 10 medals — two gold and eight bronze.
Uganda’s women won the Women’s Team Fairway title, completing an unbeaten run that included victories over Mongolia, defending champions Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei before defeating hosts Malaysia 3–0 in the final.
The second gold came in the Women’s Doubles Stroke Competition, where Christine Birungi and Sanyu Mirembe emerged champions.
Uganda also collected bronze medals in the men’s and women’s team events, men’s and women’s fairway singles, women’s fairway doubles, men’s stroke doubles and mixed stroke doubles.
Kayongo credited the international success to the federation’s development work at grassroots level.
“We had a sublime performance in Malaysia. The medal tally spoke volumes and shows the work done here from the grassroots,” he said.
Alignment milestone
The AGM also provided an update on the federation’s compliance with the 2023 Sports Act.
The Uganda Woodball Federation had previously been placed in Tier Two by the National Council of Sports (NCS) over alignment requirements.
Kayongo, however, announced that NCS had now approved the federation’s 75 percent representation across Uganda’s districts, paving the way for issuance of its alignment certificate.
“As we speak, NCS approved our 75% representation in Uganda districts. Any time our certificate will be issued,” Kayongo said.
The development gives the federation a stronger administrative footing as it seeks to expand Woodball participation beyond the established centres and build on Uganda’s growing international profile.
