With at most three games to complete the 2017/18 Uganda Premier League campaign, a big applause goes to the FUFA and the UPL for the job well done in terms of discipline.
Right from match day one, the relevant authorities showed they were ready to not tolerate any kind of indiscipline from fans, officials, coaches or players.
In that regard, Fred Kajoba (Bright Stars), Charles Ayiekoh (Kirinya-Jinja SS), Wasswa Bbosa (SC Villa), Alex Gitta (Masavu) and Miguel Da Costa (Vipers) have faced the long arm of the law among coaches.
Samson Kirya (SC Villa) and James Alitho (Vipers) were also not spared among the players while Muhammad Jjumba (SC Villa) and Peter Lwanga (Vipers) among administrators are some of the people that have been punished.
Selective justice
But for all the work done, the selective application of the rules leaves the authorities with egg on the face. For instance, Kajoba was given a four match touchline ban for his comments against the referee in the opening match of the season in the goalless draw versus Vipers in Mwererwe.
When it came to Ayiekoh, it was the same punishment but Kirinya was docked one point and a goal.
SC Villa and Vipers, just like Bright Stars, were not docked points. No explanation was given for same offence, harsh punishment for Kirinya.
Hooliganism
The FUFA Disciplinary Committee docked SC Villa 2 points and 2 goals for violence and fan hooliganism at St. Mary’s Kitende as they lost 1-0 to Vipers SC.
For starters, the game smoothly went on without any interruption as the violence was only concentrated in the Blue section. Two similar incidents have since happened but without reprimand.
First, Masavu fans attacked the second assistant referee in the draw versus Mbarara City fans at Bugonga and the game was halted for at least five minutes.
It was worse at Mutesa II stadium, Wankulukuku when Express FC hosted KCCA a couple of weeks ago.
When the visitors took the lead in the 43 minute through Jackson Nunda, the home fans pelted stones at the assistant referee and referee Mashood Ssali had to call off the game for not less than 8 minutes before calm was restored.
For the two events, a report has never been released.
When I refereed the queries to UPL CEO, Bernard Bainamani, following interest from readers on the different forums, he said;
We received all those cases and forwarded to the FUFA Disciplinary Competitions Disciplinary Panel. I remember some were handled and some are yet to be handled.
Bainamani went further to reveal that when verdicts are made, they will be communicated like it has been the case.
Those which were handled, the verdicts came back to us and we communicated them to stakeholders. For those pending, when verdicts come back to us, we shall communicate accordingly. I advise, for more inquiries refer to the panel headed by Deo Mutabazi.
It remains to be seen how the cases will be handled or if they are to be handled at all.
