Kampala, Uganda — World football governing body FIFA has imposed worldwide bans on former Ugandan international Mike Mutyaba, goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa, and football administrator Miiro Ashraf Mwanje following their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
The sanctions, issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, bar the trio from all football-related activities globally with effect from March 12, 2026, extending earlier local punishments handed down in Uganda.
Match-Fixing Case
The bans stem from investigations into the manipulation of a 2024 Uganda Premier League match between Express FC and Kitara FC.
Uganda’s football governing body, Federation of Uganda Football Associations, confirmed that the case originated from a betting alert flagged by FIFA, which indicated suspicious patterns suggesting the match had been pre-arranged.
The global extension of the bans means the affected individuals are prohibited from participating in any football activity, both locally and internationally, under FIFA’s jurisdiction.
More Sanctions on Ugandans
The latest action adds to a growing list of Ugandan football stakeholders sanctioned over match manipulation. Those previously handed FIFA-recognized bans include:
- Saleh Maganda – 5-year ban
- Franco Oringa – 5-year ban
- Godfrey Lwesibawa – 5-year ban
- Yahaya Mahad Kakooza – 5-year ban
- Andrew Waiswa – 5-year ban
- George Nkurunziza (referee) – 10-year ban
- Deogracious Opio (referee) – 10-year ban
Pending Case
FIFA has also confirmed that the case involving Mbazira Ashiraf is still under review by its Disciplinary Committee.
Integrity Crackdown
The global bans highlight FIFA’s continued crackdown on match-fixing, a vice widely regarded as a major threat to the integrity of football. By extending national sanctions worldwide, the body reinforces its zero-tolerance stance and sends a strong warning to players, officials, and clubs.
The development is expected to intensify efforts by FUFA to strengthen monitoring systems and safeguard the credibility of domestic competitions in Uganda.
