Lutaaya Takes Charge at MRU, Targets Continued UFL Success and Wider Sporting Dominance
Henry Mary Lutaaya lifting the University Football League Title at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo
MUTEESA I ROYAL UNIVERSITY (MRU) has appointed former Uganda Martyrs University Sports Tutor Henry Mary Lutaaya to lead its sports department for the next two years, with the experienced administrator tasked with building on the institution’s recent success.
Lutaaya was unveiled on Wednesday at MRU’s main campus in Masaka, ending the university’s period without a permanent sports tutor.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Royal University, which is preparing to defend its Pepsi University Football League (UFL) title while also seeking to establish itself as a force across multiple sporting disciplines.
MRU made history during the 2025/26 season by winning its maiden UFL title, and Lutaaya has been handed the responsibility of ensuring that achievement becomes the foundation for a stronger and more sustainable sports programme.
The new sports tutor brings with him extensive experience from Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), where he played a key role in developing one of Uganda’s most successful university sports programmes.
During his time at UMU, the university won the University Football League in 2022 and 2025. Its football team also claimed gold at the 2024 Eastern Africa University Games in Maseno, Kenya, while Lutaaya was serving as sports tutor.
His tenure was not limited to football. UMU also won gold medals in football and rugby at the 2023 National University Games, further highlighting his experience in managing competitive university sport across different disciplines.
Lutaaya’s experience also extends to the international university sports scene.
In 2025, he was among Ugandan volunteers at the FISU World University Games in Rhine Ruhr, Germany, where he worked in the ticketing department.
His practical experience has been complemented by an academic journey increasingly focused on sports administration.
Speaking after his unveiling, Lutaaya thanked MRU management and the Dean of Students, Ssenkungu Paddy, for entrusting him with the responsibility.
“I sincerely thank the management of Muteesa I Royal University and the Dean of Students, Mr Ssenkungu Paddy, for placing their trust in me to lead the sports department at this historic Royal University. This is a role I assume with deep pride and humility. With the university’s full backing and commitment to providing the resources needed, I am ready to elevate the MRU sports family to another level.”
Lutaaya’s ambitions, however, extend beyond defending the university’s football crown.
The new sports boss wants to establish a comprehensive sports structure that can produce competitive teams and athletes across a number of disciplines.
“By combining structured management, strategic talent recruitment and my past championship experience, we will turn MRU into a dominant, winning force in university sports. Together, we are going to take MRU sports to the very next level.”
His immediate assignment will be preparing the UFL champions for the new season.
Beyond football, his plans include strengthening talent identification, recruitment, athlete development and competition structures across other sports.
Another major test will come in December 2026 when MRU competes at the East Africa University Games.
With a two-year mandate, Lutaaya begins his MRU journey with a clear challenge: to defend the university’s newly won football crown while building a sports programme capable of competing for honours across the university sporting landscape.
