KCCA FC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anisha Muhoozi has strongly condemned the FUFA Appeals Committee’s decision to uphold the club’s forfeiture of their match against Mbarara City FC. Muhoozi labeled the ruling as “absurd” and “unfair,” questioning whether the committee fully understands how football is governed in Uganda. She argued that KCCA FC had followed due process in determining defender Gavin Kizito Mugweri’s eligibility, relying on the FUFA Competitions Department’s records, which indicated he had only two yellow cards instead of three. “It is very absurd that the FUFA Appeals Committee has come up with such a ruling, especially when our decision was based on FUFA’s own registry,” Muhoozi stated.
Despite KCCA FC’s appeal, the FUFA Appeals Committee ruled that the club had indeed fielded an ineligible player during their Uganda Premier League fixture on January 7, 2025, and, as a result, upheld the Disciplinary Panel’s decision to forfeit the match. The committee emphasized that it is the sole responsibility of clubs to verify player eligibility before matches, stating that maintaining competition integrity is paramount. “Fielding eligible players is of critical importance as it ensures high reliability and integrity of competitions,” the committee declared.
Muhoozi, however, questioned the rationale behind the ruling, arguing that FUFA had delegated the responsibility of maintaining player records to the Uganda Premier League (UPL). She revealed that KCCA FC had sought official clarification from UPL on January 6, 2025, regarding Mugweri’s status and received confirmation that he was not suspended. “Now FUFA is saying we consulted UPL instead of FUFA, yet FUFA delegated this responsibility to UPL. Does this mean UPL is not working under FUFA’s instructions? This decision raises serious concerns,” she said.
The KCCA FC CEO further criticized FUFA for failing to acknowledge the discrepancy between its own registry and the Disciplinary Panel’s claim of three yellow cards. She argued that the club had acted in good faith by adhering to the official registry. “If FUFA’s own records showed two cards, then we were in full compliance. This ruling suggests that even when clubs follow the established procedures, they can still be unfairly penalized,” Muhoozi lamented.
The Appeals Committee’s decision has sparked widespread debate in the football fraternity, with concerns raised about the clarity and consistency of FUFA’s regulations. KCCA FC now finds itself at the center of a major football governance dispute, one that could set a significant precedent for future disciplinary cases. As the club weighs its next steps, stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the enforcement of competition rules.
