Denis Obua
Encyclopedia
Denis Obua was a former Uganda
n soccer player and administrator, who played on the left-wing for Uganda
between 1968 and 1977 and later served as President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations
(FUFA) and chairman of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
of Uganda. He was educated at Boroboro Junior School and Manjasi High School, Tororo
, where, in 1967, his talent was recognised and he was signed by Coffee United FC. The following year he joined Police FC
, with whom he pursued parallel careers as a footballer and a policeman. In 1977, Obua was the league's top goalscorer, with 24 goals, but after Police were relegated at the end of the 1978 season he joined Maroons FC of Luzira
.
Obua only played for Maroons for one season. In April 1979, the Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin
, was ousted and, during the unstable period that followed, several players from Simba FC
—a team which, at that time, was drawn entirely from serving Army officers—were arrested. To avoid a similar fate, Obua and a number of other soccer players fled to Kenya, where he played for Luo Union. He returned to Uganda in 1980 and rejoined Police FC, but could not regain his form and retired. In 1983, he came out of retirement and joined Villa SC, who had won the Ugandan Premier League championship the previous year.
Obua played for Villa in both second round matches of the 1983 African Cup of Champions Clubs, but, just before the first leg of the quarter-finals, he was injured in an incident that brought his playing career to an end. He was in a bar in Kamwokya when it was attacked by gunmen, who began shooting indiscriminately at the customers. Obua was shot in the abdomen and, though he was flown to West Germany for treatment, he was unable to resume playing.
, he scored four goals in Uganda's 7–1 win and was a member of Uganda's CECAFA Cup-winning team on six occasions.
He represented Uganda in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 1968
, 1974
and 1976
, scoring one of Uganda's two goals in the latter tournament, but was dropped from the squad before the 1978 African Cup of Nations
, in which Uganda reached the final.
Denis Obua is regarded as one of the best (some would say the best) players to play at no. 11 for Uganda.
after a 19-year absence. At the national level, Obua managed the Uganda youth team at the 1991 All-Africa Games
and in 1995 he managed the Uganda 'B' team that reached the final of the 1995 CECAFA Cup
. In 1998 he was offered the post of coach to the national team, but turned it down. Instead, in December that year, he contested and won the election for president of FUFA. In 2001 he was re-elected to a second term and in 2003 he also became chairman of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
Beginning in late 2004, Obua was involved in controversy over the management of FUFA. On 30 November 2004, he announced that the executive board's term of office had expired; this was disputed by Obua's predecessor as FUFA president, Twaha Kakaire. Obua announced that new elections would be held in February 2005, but, a few days before the elections were due to be held, Uganda's Sports Minister suspended FUFA, pending an investigation of its affairs. A fortnight later, Obua announced that he was resigning as FUFA president. A pressure group of Ugandan soccer fans then brought charges against Obua and FUFA's former seretary-general, alleging that they had embezzled funds while in office. Obua was in Kenya on CECAFA business when the charges were laid and on his return to Kampala
he was arrested for failing to appear in court. and spent two weeks in jail. Subsequently, Obua was one of 17 FUFA officials named by Uganda's Inspector General of Government as having been responsible for gross mismanagement of finances; the 17 were order to refund varying amounts to FUFA or face prosecution.
Obua continued to serve as chairman of CECAFA until his term expired, in 2007; he was appointed honorary chairman for CECAFA's General Assembly in 2007 and remained an honorary member until his death.
is a current Ugandan international and plays for Hearts
in the Scottish Premier League
. Another son, Eric
, plays for SC Villa
in the Ugandan Super League
, while a third, Kevin, plays for his school, St Mary's Secondary School, Kitende. A daughter, Sarah Desire Birungi, captains the National Insurance Corporation
netball team in Uganda's National Netball League.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n soccer player and administrator, who played on the left-wing for Uganda
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
between 1968 and 1977 and later served as President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations
Federation of Uganda Football Associations
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations is the governing body of football in Uganda.-External links:* * at the FIFA website.* at CAF Online...
(FUFA) and chairman of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
Club career
Denis Otim Obua was born on 13 June 1947 in the village of Akol in the Amolatar DistrictAmolatar District
Amolatar District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amolatar, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
of Uganda. He was educated at Boroboro Junior School and Manjasi High School, Tororo
Tororo
Tororo is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Tororo District. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
, where, in 1967, his talent was recognised and he was signed by Coffee United FC. The following year he joined Police FC
Police FC (Uganda)
Police FC is a football club from Jinja in Uganda.They have won their first Ugandan league title in 2005 and the CECAFA Clubs Cup in 2006. Their coach Sam Timbe clinched his second successive CECAFA trophy, after winning the same title with SC Villa in 2005. Police was spurred on in the early years...
, with whom he pursued parallel careers as a footballer and a policeman. In 1977, Obua was the league's top goalscorer, with 24 goals, but after Police were relegated at the end of the 1978 season he joined Maroons FC of Luzira
Luzira
Luzira is a suburb of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. It is best known for the country's main prison, Luzira Maximum Security Prison, which has seen significant redevelopment thanks to the work of African Prisons Project, a charity based in the UK and Kampala....
.
Obua only played for Maroons for one season. In April 1979, the Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
, was ousted and, during the unstable period that followed, several players from Simba FC
Simba FC
Simba FC is a Ugandan football club based in Lugazi. They are the country's Army club. They were a dominant force in the 1970s and 1980s when all the players were serving officers in the Army.-Achievements:*African Cup of Champions Clubs: 0...
—a team which, at that time, was drawn entirely from serving Army officers—were arrested. To avoid a similar fate, Obua and a number of other soccer players fled to Kenya, where he played for Luo Union. He returned to Uganda in 1980 and rejoined Police FC, but could not regain his form and retired. In 1983, he came out of retirement and joined Villa SC, who had won the Ugandan Premier League championship the previous year.
Obua played for Villa in both second round matches of the 1983 African Cup of Champions Clubs, but, just before the first leg of the quarter-finals, he was injured in an incident that brought his playing career to an end. He was in a bar in Kamwokya when it was attacked by gunmen, who began shooting indiscriminately at the customers. Obua was shot in the abdomen and, though he was flown to West Germany for treatment, he was unable to resume playing.
International career
Denis Obua was called up to the national squad in 1967 and soon established himself in the left wing position. In 1968 he was selected to represent East Africa in a game against visiting English club West Bromwich Albion. Against Zanzibar in the 1969 East Africa Challenge CupCECAFA Cup
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is a tournament of FIFA and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations , and includes national teams from Central and East Africa...
, he scored four goals in Uganda's 7–1 win and was a member of Uganda's CECAFA Cup-winning team on six occasions.
He represented Uganda in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 1968
1968 African Cup of Nations
The 1968 African Cup of Nations was the sixth edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Ethiopia. The field expanded to eight teams, split into two groups of four; the top two teams in each group advanced to the semifinals...
, 1974
1974 African Cup of Nations
The 1974 African Cup of Nations was the ninth edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Egypt....
and 1976
1976 African Cup of Nations
The 1976 African Cup of Nations was the tenth edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Ethiopia. The format of competition changed from 1974: the field of eight teams was still split into two groups of four, but a final stage was introduced with...
, scoring one of Uganda's two goals in the latter tournament, but was dropped from the squad before the 1978 African Cup of Nations
1978 African Cup of Nations
The 1978 African Cup of Nations was the 11th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa . It was hosted by Accra and Kumasi, Ghana...
, in which Uganda reached the final.
Denis Obua is regarded as one of the best (some would say the best) players to play at no. 11 for Uganda.
Career as an administrator
In 1984 Obua started a new career as a coach, initially on a part-time basis, with his old club, Police FC. In 1995, he became the full-time coach and, under his guidance, the club gained promotion back to the Super LeagueUgandan Super League
The Ugandan Super League is the top division of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, it was created in 1968.-Ugandan Super League Clubs - 2011/12:*Bul Bidco FC*Bunamwaya SC *Express FC *Fire Masters FC...
after a 19-year absence. At the national level, Obua managed the Uganda youth team at the 1991 All-Africa Games
1991 All-Africa Games
The 5th All-Africa Games were held from September 20 to October 1, 1991 in Cairo, Egypt. Forty-three countries participated in eighteen sports....
and in 1995 he managed the Uganda 'B' team that reached the final of the 1995 CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is a tournament of FIFA and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations , and includes national teams from Central and East Africa...
. In 1998 he was offered the post of coach to the national team, but turned it down. Instead, in December that year, he contested and won the election for president of FUFA. In 2001 he was re-elected to a second term and in 2003 he also became chairman of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
Beginning in late 2004, Obua was involved in controversy over the management of FUFA. On 30 November 2004, he announced that the executive board's term of office had expired; this was disputed by Obua's predecessor as FUFA president, Twaha Kakaire. Obua announced that new elections would be held in February 2005, but, a few days before the elections were due to be held, Uganda's Sports Minister suspended FUFA, pending an investigation of its affairs. A fortnight later, Obua announced that he was resigning as FUFA president. A pressure group of Ugandan soccer fans then brought charges against Obua and FUFA's former seretary-general, alleging that they had embezzled funds while in office. Obua was in Kenya on CECAFA business when the charges were laid and on his return to Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
he was arrested for failing to appear in court. and spent two weeks in jail. Subsequently, Obua was one of 17 FUFA officials named by Uganda's Inspector General of Government as having been responsible for gross mismanagement of finances; the 17 were order to refund varying amounts to FUFA or face prosecution.
Obua continued to serve as chairman of CECAFA until his term expired, in 2007; he was appointed honorary chairman for CECAFA's General Assembly in 2007 and remained an honorary member until his death.
Family
Denis Obua fathered 18 children. His son DavidDavid Obua
David Obua is a Ugandan footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Hearts and the Uganda national team.Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua has primarily been used as a left-sided midfield player, although he has also played a number of times as a striker.-Club career:Born...
is a current Ugandan international and plays for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. Another son, Eric
Eric Obua
Eric Obua is a professional footballer who plays as a Midfielder for SC Villa. Being left footed like his father and brother he usually plays on the left wing, however can also play as a forward.-Personal life:...
, plays for SC Villa
SC Villa
Villa Sports Club is a football club from Kampala in Uganda. They play their home games at the National Stadium. They are named after English side Aston Villa FC.-Overview:...
in the Ugandan Super League
Ugandan Super League
The Ugandan Super League is the top division of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, it was created in 1968.-Ugandan Super League Clubs - 2011/12:*Bul Bidco FC*Bunamwaya SC *Express FC *Fire Masters FC...
, while a third, Kevin, plays for his school, St Mary's Secondary School, Kitende. A daughter, Sarah Desire Birungi, captains the National Insurance Corporation
National Insurance Corporation
National Insurance Corporation Limited , commonly referred to as National Insurance Corporation, is an insurance company in Uganda. The company is a leading provider of insurance and risk management services in Uganda.-Overvview:...
netball team in Uganda's National Netball League.