KAMPALA –For anyone who thought that the Federation of Uganda Football Associations – Fufa House in Mengo a seat for footballers; must reconsider their position, especially after what happened to Sulaiman Mutyaba and his associates on Friday morning.
Mutyaba –an ex-international, who featured for a number of local sides – including KCCA FC, Express FC, Vipers SC and Bunamwaya FC, was harassed on Friday morning at the Fufa House-Mengo where he had led a group of footballers to demand for accountability through a peaceful demonstration.
Eyewitnesses said Mutyaba – once an asset of African giants – TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Sudanese side -El-Merreikh, carried placards – calling on Fufa president, Eng Moses Magogo immediate resignation for ‘failing basic leadership ethics of ‘lacking in transparency and accountability.’
“Guards shoot in the air to disperse a group of onlookers; who had gathered around and had started cheering the demonstrating players,” said our source, adding; “sooner than later – the same guards pounced on Mutyaba – clobbering him with batons. Soon, a patrol vehicle arrived and Mutyaba was picked and driven away to Old Kampala Police Station.” Moments later, photos of Mutyaba, whose body was full of marks – literally of the beatings, started circulating on various social media platforms.
Police authorities said Mutyaba had been arrested for staging an unlawful assembly.
Last week Mutyaba embarked on a campaign – demanding for accountability, transparency and most importantly players’ unpaid allowances. He asserted that the federation wasn’t remitting players’ monthly salary, as president Yoweri Museveni had, two years ago ordered. He also said players, who featured in the Chan tournament – recently staged in Cameroon hadn’t been paid their allowances.
In response to Mutyaba’s allegations, Eng. Magogo on Tuesday made a shocking statement at Jevine Hotel – Rubaga insisting that players (especially those who featured in Chan) had no grounds to demand for any coin, ‘because they played ‘shitty football.’
But Mutyaba gave Fufa an ultimatum to pay the players or be ready for any consequences that a peaceful demo would carry.
“What we go through no one knows apart from us players. We have given heart, body and soul for the national team but what I know is that when you start to demand for money from the federation you’re the culprit. We have been demanding money from the Government but all has landed on deaf ears. So if Sulaiman Mutyaba comes out to defend players’ rights, let him be. Am not fighting anyone but truth hurts,” wrote Mutyaba on his facebook wall.
The following are the demands in details;
• Ugx 50m from government to pay Uganda Cranes players monthly salaries for the past two years.
• Ugx 30m won by Acholi province in the 2019 Fufa Drum Compeition.
• Ugx 4m for each of the U-17 player who participate in Tanzania.
• 4000$ for each of the U-20 player who reached Afcon final.
• Chan team camp fees and allowances.
• Burkina Faso and Malawi camp fees and allowances.