Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has suspended five individuals including Express FC CEO and defender after inventigations into alleged match-fixing in the Uganda Premier League game between Kitara FC and Express FC played on 21st December 2024.
The Red Eagles lost the said game 7-0, marking Express FC’s heaviest defeat in top-flight history, with Kitara’s George Ssenkaaba scoring a hat-trick, Jude Ssemugabi adding two goals, and Fred Amaku and David Ndihabwe completing the rout.
FUFA says a FIFA betting report indicated the match may have been manipulated for betting purposes, with prior information that Express FC would lose and concede at least five goals.
Preliminary findings suggest former player Mike Mutyaba coordinated the alleged scheme with Katende Ivan, who has previously been linked to match-fixing investigations.
The report also alleges that Express FC CEO Ashraf Miiro was involved in the plot.
Investigators say betting accounts linked to Katende won millions from bets placed with a Tanzanian betting company, although the company later blocked the payouts after detecting suspected fraud.
The probe has also pointed to the alleged involvement of Express FC players goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa and Ashraf Mbazira, who are said to have been recruited by Mutyaba to influence events on the pitch.
FUFA has since involved the Criminal Investigations Directorate, while Mutyaba, Miiro, Kalyowa, Mbazira and Katende have all been provisionally suspended from all football-related activities pending disciplinary proceedings within 90 days.
