Five banned from football after FUFA probes Express–Kitara fixing claims

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has provisionally suspended five individuals following investigations into alleged match manipulation involving an Uganda Premier League fixture between Kitara FC and Express FC played on 21st December 2024.

The suspensions were issued through the Investigatory Chamber of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee after preliminary findings pointed to possible involvement in match fixing activities.

Those provisionally suspended from all football-related engagements include Mike Mutyaba, Ashraf Miiro, goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa, Ashraf Mbazira, and Ivan Katende.

Update on Investigation into Match Manipulation-Kitara FC vs Express FC Played On 21st December 2024 pic.twitter.com/erlXqlVakf

— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) March 12, 2026

According to FUFA, the case came to light after FIFA alerted the federation through a betting integrity report indicating suspicious betting patterns linked to the match.

The report suggested the fixture had allegedly been manipulated for betting purposes, with prior information circulating that Express FC would lose and concede at least five goals.

Preliminary investigations claim that Mutyaba allegedly coordinated the scheme together with Katende, who has previously been linked to match-fixing investigations within Ugandan football.

FUFA further alleges that Mutyaba introduced Katende to Express FC’s chief executive Miiro, after which the trio reportedly conspired to influence the outcome of the match. Evidence gathered so far indicates that betting accounts in Uganda connected to Katende reportedly won millions of shillings through a Tanzania-based betting company.

However, the company is said to have blocked the payout after detecting suspected fraudulent activity.

Investigators also revealed that players Kalyowa and Mbazira were allegedly recruited by Mutyaba to execute the manipulation on the pitch.

On the match day in question, Mutyaba is said to have taken charge of technical matters within the team, exploiting the absence of then Express FC head coach Kaddu Badru Mukasa.

FUFA noted that the suspensions remain provisional as investigations continue, with further disciplinary proceedings expected once the inquiry is concluded.

Five Banned from Football After FUFA Probes Match Manipulation Case

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has provisionally suspended five individuals following investigations into alleged match manipulation involving a Uganda Premier League fixture between Kitara FC and Express FC played on December 21, 2024.

The suspensions were issued through the Investigatory Chamber of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee after preliminary findings pointed to possible involvement in match-fixing activities.

Those provisionally suspended from all football-related engagements include Mike Mutyaba, Ashraf Miiro, goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa, Ashraf Mbazira and Ivan Katende.

According to the federation, the investigation began after FIFA alerted Ugandan football authorities through a betting integrity monitoring report that highlighted suspicious betting patterns connected to the match.

The report indicated that the game may have been manipulated for betting purposes, with prior information allegedly circulating within betting networks that Express FC would lose the match and concede at least five goals.

Details of the alleged match manipulation

Preliminary investigations claim that former player Mike Mutyaba allegedly coordinated the scheme together with Ivan Katende, who has previously been linked to match-fixing investigations within Ugandan football.

Investigators believe Mutyaba introduced Katende to Express FC’s chief executive Ashraf Miiro, after which the trio allegedly conspired to influence the outcome of the league match.

Evidence collected during the investigation reportedly shows that betting accounts linked to Katende placed wagers through a Tanzania-based betting company.

Authorities say the betting accounts connected to the suspected scheme won millions of Ugandan shillings after the match result. However, the betting company reportedly blocked the payout after detecting suspicious activity linked to the wagers.

The investigation further revealed that players Emmanuel Kalyowa and Ashraf Mbazira were allegedly recruited to influence events on the pitch during the match.

According to investigators, the two players were expected to play specific roles that would help manipulate the outcome of the fixture.

Events surrounding the match

On the day of the match, Mutyaba reportedly took charge of technical responsibilities within the team. This reportedly happened during the absence of Express FC’s then head coach Kaddu Badru Mukasa.

Investigators believe this situation may have created an opportunity for the suspected manipulation to take place.

The match between Kitara FC and Express FC later became the focus of scrutiny after unusual betting activity surrounding the fixture was detected by international monitoring systems.

Such systems are commonly used by football governing bodies and betting companies to identify suspicious betting patterns that may indicate potential match fixing.

Ongoing investigation and disciplinary process

The football governing body emphasized that the suspensions are provisional while investigations continue.

Officials stated that the disciplinary process will continue gathering evidence and interviewing individuals connected to the case before making a final ruling.

Further sanctions could be imposed depending on the outcome of the investigation and the findings of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.

Protecting the integrity of Ugandan football

Football authorities in Uganda have increasingly taken a stronger stance against match manipulation in recent years.

Match fixing has become a growing concern in global football, particularly due to the expansion of online betting markets. As a result, governing bodies have strengthened monitoring systems and disciplinary measures to protect the integrity of competitions.

Ugandan football officials have also collaborated with international organizations and FIFA integrity programs to detect suspicious betting patterns and prevent manipulation.

The ongoing investigation into the Kitara FC and Express FC match is expected to serve as a strong warning to individuals involved in football activities.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining fair competition and ensuring that football results are determined solely on sporting merit.