Uganda Police has successfully saved Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) main headquarters at Mengo in Kampala from a forceful take over by a rival faction.
As early as 6:00 a.m, a group of former Uganda Cranes players led by Dan Walusimbi, a self proclaimed FUFA President was joined by the longest serving captain of the national team, George Semwogerere, Polly Ouma, Issa Sekatawa, Mathias Kawesa, Dan Mugabi, Phillip Obwini, Obadiah Semakula and Nanik Muzamil as they attacked the federation headquarters.
They were accompanied by a group of about 30 young men aged between 20 and 35 years carrying placards that spelt out their disappointment about the way football is managed in the country.
“We have come for our house. It is time up for score-line investment,” one of the placards read in bold.
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By 7:15 a.m, the group forcefully broke the glass at the FUFA reception as they strangled one office attendant, Jimmy Ssebale in a bid to force their way to the office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FUFA President’s chambers an other offices on the three-storied building.
Live bullets were fired up in the skies as the situation became unbearable to disperse the then rowdy crowd.
Old Kampala DPC Charles Nsaba took the role of mediation when he took on Walusimbi to find the root cause of the dilemma.
Nsaba then drove off with Walusimbi with the rest of the group to Central Police Station.
FUFA later published a statement that read;
The matter is being handled by Police.
We would like to inform our members, football stakeholders in Government and the Corporate world , sponsors and partners that our staff at FUFA House are on duty and ready to serve you.
For a long time now, the FUFA rival faction led by Dan Walusimbi has been fighting tooth and nail to take over management of the federation.
These jockers only show up when FUFA hits a new high. We all know their main financial backer.
Police should charge them for inciting violence and FUFA should sue for damages.
These guys are not serious. procedures for taking office are well streamlined.let them wait for elections. they are not the first to play football.twakoowa
Too bad. Why can’t there be dialog. Its we the soccer lovers to suffer. Pliz Dan walusimbi and company be fair to us the ordinary soccer lovers whoz benefit from soccer is happiness unlike you and others who are seeking for gains.
Its being naive to think that contributing to uganda’s football is only by playing it.Ex-internationals pliz wake up.Its not written anywhere that uganda’s soccer administrators shd be only ex-internationals.who of doz has done much than L.Mulindwa former fufa president. We are not happy at all. Though they may have a point.