Uganda’s football federation (Fufa) has banned 13 individuals, including 10 referees, following the uncovering of a South African-based match-fixing syndicate, with the assistance of FIFA.
The individuals, which also include a player and two administrators, received provisional 90-day bans from Fufa on June 13th. The match-fixing ring targeted seven games across the second divisions of both men’s and women’s football in Uganda between October and December last year. A member of Fufa’s investigatory chamber, Charles Twine revealed that “We received a lot of information from intelligence, collaborators, and different platforms about the vice of match-fixing in Uganda.
Twine described the problem as “so damaging” and noted that Fufa has “incontrovertible” evidence against the Ugandans involved. “I can comfortably call it a criminal syndicate because match-fixing is associated with many crimes – corruption, money laundering, and sometimes organized crime,” he added. Such groups often target matches outside the top flight due to the lack of television cameras in lower-tier games.
Match-fixing was criminalized in Uganda last year, with the country set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania. Recently, FIFA issued global five-year bans to five players, including three from top-flight side Gaddafi FC, and 10-year suspensions to two referees from Uganda. These individuals were initially suspended by Fufa in August 2023, the same month that President Yoweri Museveni signed the National Sports Act into law, criminalizing match-fixing.
Fufa’s legal manager, Denis Lukambi, explained that systems established with FIFA and sports data company Sportradar enabled the detection of match-fixing. “We received an alert that someone has placed abnormal money on a particular game,” said Lukambi. “99% of this process is about betting – with match-fixers placing money either in local betting houses or, more often, out of the country.”
Last week, Fufa stated that the match-fixing syndicate was led by “Hilfiger Mutyaba, alias Chelsea, and other local criminal elements,” one of whom the federation is still searching for. Mutyaba was described by Fufa as “an ex-convict charged, convicted, and sentenced in the Virgin Islands for financial-related crimes.” He and his accomplices recruited referee Kaddu Ali, who approached players, club officials, and match officials on behalf of the fixers.
“We broke into the syndicate penetrating our game, and some of these guys were from South Africa,” Twine said. “We identified a guy called Mutyaba. He put a lot of money as bait and came here, recruiting a few Ugandans as agents. These agents then compromised referees, club officials, and players, leading to fixed matches.”
Investigations began in December, with 80% of those involved reportedly confessing and exposing others. Fufa indicated that some players were “used,” which might result in reduced bans, while others allegedly placed their bets on fixed games.
The 13 banned individuals have 90 days to present their defense before Fufa’s ethics committee determines the length of their suspensions if found guilty. They have the right to appeal to Fufa, and if that fails, they can take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Those found guilty could also face criminal charges.
“We call upon all Ugandans to collectively fight against match-fixing, irrespective of your role – whether you’re in the media, a sports fan, a sports administrator, or a player,” said Twine. “We shall continue unwaveringly to ensure that this vice is completely eradicated.”
