The recent suspension of Buhimba FC players by FUFA once again brings to the surface a deeply sensitive issue—one that many prefer to discuss in hushed corridors rather than confront openly.
In many instances, the alleged match fixers are widely suspected. Yet the absence of conclusive evidence keeps these discussions underground, never fully exposed to public scrutiny. And so, the fundamental question remains unanswered:
Who are the real match fixers?
At its core, match fixing refers to the pre-determination of a football result. In practice, the most immediate targets are players and match officials—individuals who operate on the frontline of the game and report to administrators. Over time, these easily reachable actors have repeatedly borne the brunt of sanctions, often serving as collateral damage whenever match-fixing scandals emerge.
This is not to suggest that players, referees, or administrators should be absolved of responsibility. Anyone involved must face the consequences. However, the lingering concern is whether the principal architects—the true power brokers—are ever held accountable.
Influencing players, match officials, and administrators to manipulate results requires more than proximity; it requires power—either institutional authority or financial muscle. It is therefore unrealistic to assume that players or referees are the chief orchestrators of this vice. More often than not, they are conduits for a concealed network of influential individuals operating behind the scenes.
A look at past events reinforces this concern.
On 13 March 2023, FUFA, in partnership with Sportradar, launched an anti–match-fixing campaign aimed at supporting FIFA’s efforts to curb the vice. A reporting hotline (+256787063409) and an email address (protect@fufa.co.ug) were unveiled to encourage whistleblowing.
Yet even before this initiative, in December 2022, referee John Bosco Kalibbala was handed a 15-year ban for allegedly influencing match outcomes.
In May 2023—barely two months after the campaign launch—two match officials, George Nkurunziza and Deogratious Opio, alongside six players including Andrew Waiswa, Godfrey Lwesibawa, and Mahad Kakooza of Gaddafi FC, were suspended as investigations commenced. By August 2023, these individuals received varying bans ranging from five to ten years.
On 13 June 2024, FUFA imposed further sanctions, banning ten referees, two administrators, and one player. Among them were referees Ali Kaddu, Nantatya Godwin, Atuhaire Dorcus, and administrator Ahmed Kongola.
In his New Year football address of 2025, the FUFA President confirmed ongoing investigations into the Kitara–Express match played on 21 December 2024, which ended in a shocking 7–0 scoreline. To date, no official findings have been released.
Then, in January 2026, FUFA once again launched investigations and suspended several Buhimba FC players following their defeat to Lugazi FC. The football fraternity now awaits the outcome.
Notably, across all these cases, only the sanctions of 13 June 2024 explicitly named a supposed lead operator—Hilfiger Mutyaba—identified as heading a match-fixing syndicate. Even then, there was an implicit admission that he was acting on behalf of other, unnamed individuals.
In all other instances, FUFA stopped short of identifying those who stood behind the sanctioned referees, players, and administrators.
This inevitably raises critical questions:
- Does FUFA conduct sufficiently thorough investigations?
- Are sanctioned individuals too deeply entangled with their backers to reveal them?
- Does FUFA uncover the real power brokers but choose to shield them?
- Are some of the accused unfairly punished?
These questions demand honest and realistic engagement if the fight against match fixing is to be meaningful.
Punishing players, referees, and administrators without confronting the hidden masterminds is akin to treating symptoms while ignoring the underlying disease. The relief may be temporary, but the problem will inevitably resurface. Addressing the root cause, however, offers a far more enduring solution.