For Daniel Walusimbi, a retired footballer but one who has never retired his desire to contribute to the game, the statement “football is where the heart is” comes true.
From being the Uganda Football League top scorer to an attempt to unseat the local football federation president over what he termed illegalities in governance, Walusimbi is now honing his skills in football arbitration.
Walusimbi is among the four Ugandan students who will be part of the final round of the Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) competition in Abuja, Nigeria, in December this year.
“Participating in this football law moot has empowered and made me appreciate more of CAS procedures,” said Walusimbi.
“It has also made me have a deeper understanding of several principles in Sports Law, which I can comfortably say that I am slowly becoming an expert in Sports Law,” he added.
Forty-five universities from across Africa registered for this year’s moot, but only four were shortlisted after online rounds of submission before international sports arbitrators in a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) setting.
Two Ugandan universities, Cavendish University Uganda and Kampala International University, made it to the finals. They will be joined by Adekunle Ajasin University (Nigeria) and University of Lagos (Nigeria) for the round of four.
Walusimbi and Twaha Morgan Kubiriza will represent Cavendish Uganda while Christine Nalubwama and George Ssenfuma represent Kampala International University.
Walusimbi says engaging in such will help his future plans to see a better football community.
“As a Merchant of Justice, this competition enhances my aspiration of being one of the best sports law minds in Africa and with that, be able to make an impact on Uganda football whenever needed,” he said.
The Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) is a prestigious arbitration-based competition fostering the next generation of Sports Law experts in Africa, with a focus on football.
“We decided to interest African Universities in the Sports Arbitration space because it is lacking on the continent. Interestingly, many students are keen on this part of legal enhancement,” said Leon Ssenyange the FLAM Regional Liaison.
This year’s competition is centred on The Role of International Arbitral Tribunals in Maintaining Contractual Stability in Football.
Walusimbi is a graduate of law. He is popularly known as the “Merchant of Justice” in his circles.
The former striker is remembered for leading a players’ revolt over nonpayment at SC Villa in 2010. He also orchestrated a league footballers’ sit-down strike in 2012 over poor working conditions.