FUFA Bans 12 Individuals for Match Manipulation in 2023/2024 Season

*By John Kusolo*

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions on 12 individuals implicated in a match manipulation scheme targeting fixtures in the 2023/2024 football season. The manipulation, allegedly orchestrated by a foreign betting syndicate, violated Article 43 of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Code, which prohibits compromising the integrity of football.

*Investigations and Hearings*

The Investigatory Chamber of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee conducted an extensive investigation into allegations of match-fixing. Subsequently, the Adjudicatory Chamber held hearings to address the charges against the implicated individuals. The findings revealed varying levels of involvement in the scheme, prompting the committee to impose sanctions based on mitigating and aggravating circumstances, as well as the degree of cooperation provided by each party during the investigation.

*Sanctions Imposed*

One individual, Kaddu Ali, received a lifetime ban, while others were handed bans ranging from one to ten years. The committee noted that the sanctions reflected each individual's degree of participation and willingness to assist the investigation. The sanctions are as follows:

Kaddu Ali – Banned for life

Sajjabi Geoffrey – Banned for 10 years

Kongola Ahmed – Banned for 5 years

Epieru Richard – Banned for 3 years

Atuheirwe Joyce – Banned for 3 years

Nabisere Tausi – Banned for 3 years

Okello Simon Peter – Banned for 3 years

Nantatya Godwin – Banned for 3 years

Muyaga Khalid – Banned for 2 years

Noor Hassan – Banned for 1 year

Kiyemba Latif – Banned for 1 year

Atuhaire Docus – Banned for 1 year

*Impact on Ugandan Football*

The bans underscore FUFA's commitment to maintaining the integrity of Ugandan football. Match-fixing not only undermines the competitive spirit of the sport but also erodes public trust in the game. By taking decisive action, FUFA aims to deter similar unethical behavior and reinforce its zero-tolerance policy against corruption in football.

The individuals face significant career repercussions, including exclusion from all football-related activities within FUFA’s jurisdiction for the duration of their bans. The sanctions are expected to send a strong message to other stakeholders in Ugandan football about the consequences of engaging in activities that compromise the game's integrity.

FUFA has reiterated its commitment to upholding transparency and fairness in football. The federation has called on all stakeholders to support efforts to protect the sport from unethical practices. Moving forward, FUFA plans to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent future cases of match manipulation.

This decisive action by FUFA serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of sports and the need for collective vigilance in safeguarding the spirit of fair competition.