FUFA has ordered Bright Stars to clear part of Joel Ineah Muhindo’s unpaid salaries and bonuses as part of the ruling on a contract dispute between the player and the Big League side.
Represented by International sports lawyer Pauline Mbanza, the player told the FUFA Dispute Resolution Chamber that Bright Stars failed to pay his salaries for October and November 2024, as well as January and February 2025.
In its final ruling, the Chamber partially upheld Ineah Joel’s claim and ordered Bright Stars FC to pay UGX 1,080,000 in outstanding salaries and bonuses, covering October and November 2024, January 2025, and the unpaid match bonus.
The claims for the February 2025 salary, interest, and compensation for the remaining contract period were dismissed.
Bright Stars FC has been given 30 days to pay the amount awarded, with the risk of enforcement action if the club fails to comply.
Bright Stars were last season relegated from the Uganda Premier League for the first time in 11 years, and are currently 7th in Big League with 19 points after 14 matches.
How it all started….
The case stemmed from a three-year employment contract the two parties signed on 18 September 2024, running until 30 June 2027.
Under the agreement, Ineah was earning a monthly salary of UGX 350,000, alongside performance-related bonuses.
He also claimed a match bonus remained unpaid.
After issuing a default notice and holding a meeting that failed to resolve the matter, the player terminated his contract on 24 March 2025, arguing that the club’s actions amounted to just cause under FIFA regulations.
He went on to seek payment of arrears, compensation for the remaining period of the contract, interest, and disciplinary sanctions against the club.
Bright Stars FC, through their CEO Harold Atukwatse, admitted that some salary arrears were due, specifically for October and November 2024 and January 2025.
However, the club rejected responsibility for the February 2025 salary and strongly opposed the claim for compensation.
The club argued that the player had stopped reporting for duty, taken part in unauthorized football activities, specifically featuring in a Ntare Schools league and effectively abandoned his contractual obligations.
After reviewing the submissions from both sides, the FUFA DRC agreed that Bright Stars breached the contract by failing to pay certain salaries and bonuses.
However, the Chamber also found that the player did not sufficiently protect his right to claim compensation after staying away from club duties without proper notice.
It noted that by the time the dispute escalated, both sides had clearly lost interest in continuing the working relationship.
