The Federation of Uganda Football Associations-FUFA has offered a cash reward of Shillings 1 million for anyone who will provide information implicating any person involved in match-fixing.
Ahmed Hussein, the FUFA Head of Communications says this is one of the key decisions made by the FUFA Executive Committee Meeting held on March 26th 2022.
The decision stems from several incidents of match-fixing, which have the local football industry including the most recent incident where FUFA was forced to ban three officials for trying to influence the results in the Uganda Cup match between Tooro United and Five stars FC.
The implicated officials include former Police FC Marketing and Sales Manager, Abraham Luzzi who was banned for 10 years, local football coach James Kaweesa who was banned for 15 years and sports journalist David Isabirye who was banned for 2 years.
Now, in a bid to stop the vice, Hussein says that FUFA has staked a cash reward of Shillings 1 million to any whistleblower that will provide information about any match-fixing.
The three officials are not the first to engage in match-fixing in Uganda. In April 2021, former Uganda Premier League side, Kyetume FC indefinitely suspended three players over allegations of match-fixing.
Those suspended indefinitely include goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa, defender Julius Ntambi and team captain, Mustafa Mujjuzi. The players were suspended after the team lost to Kitara FC. Ali Sekatawa, the patron of Nyamityobora FC in Mbarara district resigned his role amidst accusations of match-fixing and sports betting.
Sekatawa had served as the patron of Nyamitobora FC for more than ten years. In his resignation letter, Sekatawa said that match-fixing and sports betting had marred football in Uganda including top leagues. He went on to switch his loyalty to Kabwohe Golf Club.
–URN
