The Presidency of Cecafa was not due for election and Leodegar Tenga of Tanzania will continue on the post until expiry of term in 2015.

Therefore, six candidates were nominated for election in which the top four with most votes would join Tenga on the Cecafa Board — together with the non-elective Secretary General whose long time holder is Kenya’s Nicholas Musonye.

Top four went through

At a later date, the Executive committee will pick among themselves who to become the vice-chairman. Mulindwa, who topped the vote by being elected by all the 12 member nations, is favourite to take over from Gebremariam.

All the other serving members of the Executive Committee were returned to office.  The lowest two scorers in the vote were Ally Chabor Kor of South Sudan and Sam Nyamweya of Kenya.

Behind-the-scene lobbying across the region and then when delegates arrived in Nairobi was intense.

Democratic process

But the secretary general, Nicholas Musonye [of Kenya], said it was a healthy exercise with every member state expressing its democratic right.

“This time round we are very happy with the superb welcome of the Local [Football Kenya Federation’s] Organising committee.

“All signs are that we are going to have a superb Challenge Cup tournament, watched by millions of Kenyans at different venues across the country. As a Kenyan myself, I congratulate the LOC and urge them to continue according the Cecafa visitors the renowned Kenyan hospitality.”

The vote at the 2013 Cecafa Congress, 26-11-2013 in Nairobi:

1. Lawrence MULINDWA [Uganda], 12 votes
2. Tariq ATTA [Sudan] 11
3. Abdul Qani SAID ARAB [Somalia] 9
4. Raoul GISANURA [Rwanda] 8

…….

5. Ally Chabor KOR [South Sudan] 5

6. Sam NYAMWEYA [Kenya] 4

….

Cecafa Executive Committee 2013

Chairman: Leodegar TENGA (Tanzania)

Lawrence MULINDWA [Uganda] – replaces Sehalu GEBREMARIAM [Ethiopia]

Member: Tareq ATTA [Sudan]

Member: Said Arab ABDULQANI [Somalia]

Member: Raoul GISANURA [Rwanda]

Secretary General ((non-elective): Nicholas MUSONYE [Kenya]