RED CARD! FUFA Kicks Out Five in Match-Fixing Crackdown
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned five individuals after finding them guilty of match manipulation in violation of Articles 43 and 44 of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Code.
According to a statement released by FUFA on Monday, the sanctions stem from investigations into the Uganda Premier League match between Lugazi FC and Buhimba United Saints FC played on November 8, 2025.
The committee found sufficient evidence linking the individuals to acts of match-fixing and imposed sanctions ranging from two-year suspensions to a lifetime ban from all football-related activities.
Those sanctioned include Buhimba United Saints FC players Fred Nkata and Moses Ayebale, who have each been banned for five years. Their teammate, Ramadhan Dudu, received a two-year suspension, while the club’s Technical Director, James Kalumba, was handed a five-year ban.
Former footballer Ali Feni received the harshest punishment after investigators found that he coordinated match-fixing activities in several matches, including the Lugazi FC versus Buhimba United Saints FC fixture, by acting as an intermediary between players and match-fixers. He was consequently banned for life from all football-related activities.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Ahmed Hussein, FUFA’s Director of Communications, said the federation remains committed to protecting the integrity of football and ensuring that all competitions are conducted fairly and transparently.
Hussein said match-fixing remains one of the biggest threats to football worldwide and warned that FUFA will continue taking firm action against individuals who attempt to manipulate results for personal gain.
“These sanctions send a strong message that FUFA has zero tolerance for match-fixing,” Hussein said. “Anyone found compromising the integrity of the game will face severe disciplinary action in accordance with our regulations.”
He added that the federation’s anti-match-fixing efforts focus on prevention, education, detection and enforcement. According to Hussein, players, coaches and club officials are regularly sensitized on the dangers of match manipulation and encouraged to report suspicious approaches.
The latest sanctions come barely three months after FIFA extended a match-fixing punishment imposed on Ugandan footballer Ashraf Mbazira to the global level. On April 1, 2026, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed a worldwide ban against Mbazira following a ruling by FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee issued on March 12, 2026.
FIFA said the sanction was extended internationally under Article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which permits disciplinary measures imposed by national football associations to be enforced across all FIFA member associations. The move was widely viewed as an endorsement of FUFA’s efforts to combat corruption and match manipulation in Ugandan football.
Football regards match-fixing as one of the gravest breaches of sporting ethics because it undermines fair competition, damages public trust and threatens credibility of the game.
FUFA said the sanctions against the five individuals took effect immediately upon notification, although the affected parties retain the right to appeal through the relevant football judicial bodies.
The federation has urged players, officials and fans to remain vigilant and support its anti-match-fixing campaign by recognizing, rejecting and reporting any attempts to influence the outcome of matches unlawfully.
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