Fabrice Shema Ngoga has abruptly resigned from his position as President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), bringing a sudden end to his 13-month tenure at the helm of Rwandan football.
Shema communicated his decision in an official letter dated September 29, 2026, addressed to FERWAFA General Assembly member Bonny Mugabe, with copies extended to international governing bodies including FIFA, CAF, and CECAFA.
In the document, Shema made his immediate departure official, writing: “I hereby submit my resignation from my position as President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), with immediate effect. This decision follows the integrity issue that has arisen in connection with my personality.”He noted that stepping down was essential for the federation.
“I believe that stepping down is the most responsible course of action to protect the credibility of the Federation, uphold public confidence, and allow the relevant processes to proceed independently and without distraction.”
However, Shema also cautioned stakeholders against drawing broader conclusions beyond verified facts, urging the public not to make assumptions beyond the facts established through the appropriate legal procedures.
Shema’s legal troubles first came to light in August 2026, when the Rwanda Investigation Bureau arrested him.
At the time, law enforcement authorities emphasised that the investigation stemmed entirely from private business dealings rather than his administrative duties at FERWAFA.
On September 2, the Nyarugenge Primary Court remanded him to provisional detention for 30 days, pending further inquiries into allegations that he issued cheques without sufficient funds and fraudulently acquired third-party property, involving unpaid cheques valued at $600,000 tied to transactions between Africa Medical Supplier and ABZL International General Trading LLC.
The judicial proceedings subsequently shifted after Shema’s legal team informed the court that a settlement had been reached with prosecutors.
Under the court-approved plea agreement, Shema admitted to the charges and paid the $600,000 covered by the cheques. He received a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year and was released from provisional detention after about 42 days.
Despite regaining his freedom, mounting public scrutiny over his personal conduct rendered his leadership position unsustainable, leading directly to his exit.
Prior to leading the national body, Shema spent six years as president of AS Kigali between 2019 and 2025, during which the club secured Peace Cup victories in 2019 and 2022. He took charge of FERWAFA in August 2025 as the sole candidate, winning 51 out of 53 votes cast at the Kigali Serena Hotel.
His resignation now leaves a leadership vacuum in Rwandan football, while also raising questions about his seat on the CECAFA Executive Committee, to which he was elected in February 2026. FERWAFA is expected to convene an Extraordinary General Assembly to select interim leadership and chart the path forward.
