Fufa president faces IGG arrest

Moses Magogo

What you need to know:

The IGG has given Mr Moses Magogo up to Wednesday next week to submit Fufa land titles and documents of other assets or be prosecuted.

Kampala- The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has ordered Fufa President Moses Magogo to surrender Fufa’s original land titles by next Wednesday or be arrested and prosecuted.
The land titles include one for the Fufa House in Mengo, Kampala.

The IGG says the order for production of Fufa documents and land titles is intended to help the inspectorate in investigations into the alleged mismanagement of assets of the country’s football governing body.

“We have taken note of the contents of your letter. Our view is that the reasons you advance for not surrendering the documents to the Inspectorate of Government are justifiable. Nevertheless, we graciously grant you an extension up to end of business on Wednesday June 4, to surrender the documents to the undersigned,” reads the Deputy IGG George Bamugemereire’s May 29, directive to Magogo.

“Should you fail to surrender all the original documents of titles to all assets of Fufa by 5pm on Wednesday June 4, the Inspectorate of Government will apply provisions…. of the Inspectorate of Government Act and prosecute you for disobeying lawful orders. Please note that there will be no further reminder,” the IGG warned.
The directive follows Mr Magogo’s failure to surrender the Fufa documents to as directed by the IGG on May 23, 2014.

However, Magogo replied on May 28, 2014, stating that the requests made by the IGG would paralyse the ongoing activities of the football association with serious legal, operational and economic implications.

Besides, Mr Magogo said he was busy in preparations of the Uganda Cranes return leg match against Madagascar for the 2015 AFCON qualifiers slated for today.

He further said he was preparing to attend the 63rd Fifa congress from June 7-12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and later attend the official kick-off of the Fifa World Cup on June 12.

“Without prejudice to the foregoing, I also note that the requests as made in your communication have an effect of paralysing and bringing an abrupt stop to the already ongoing activities of the football association and as the president of Fufa, I don’t have the mandate to individually respond to the several requests as made without the mandate and authorisation of the association membership as per the requirements of Fufa constitution,” Mr Magogo replied to the IGG.
When asked for Fufa’s stand on the IGG’s ultimatum, the Fufa public relations officer, Mr Ahmed Hussein, yesterday declined to comment on the matter.

“We have written back to the IGG and told them that we can only discuss the matter after the Uganda Cranes game against Madagascar,” said Mr Hussein.