Salary arrears spark player suspension at Mbarara City FC

Mbarara City suspended four players after they allegedly refused to travel for a Uganda Premier League match against Lugazi FC at Rwamwanje Stadium in Kamwenge District.

The players are Kitegenyi Henry, Thembo Ibrahim, Wafula Innocent and Fahad Emuran.

Club management said the suspension is indefinite and follows what it called unprofessional conduct linked to unpaid salaries.

In a statement, they said the players’ actions compromised the integrity of the team and brought the club’s reputation into question.

“Their actions have compromised the integrity of the team and brought the club’s reputation into question, which we take very seriously,” the statement read.

The club added that it holds players to high standards on and off the pitch and remains committed to discipline, respect and teamwork. Management said it will continue to monitor the situation as efforts are made to resolve the matter.

“We hold our players to the highest standards of conduct both on and off the field, and this type of behaviour does not align with our commitment to professionalism and respect for the footballing community,” the club said.

The boycott left the club in crisis on match day. With no substitutes available, forward Clinton Kamugisha was forced to play as a goalkeeper. Despite the desperate situation, Mbarara City managed a 0-0 draw against Lugazi FC, with Kamugisha later named Man of the Match. The team sheet, showing only eleven players and no substitutes.

Reports indicate the players were owed about two months in salary arrears. This situation highlights a bigger problem in Ugandan football, where players struggle to survive without pay. Passion alone cannot pay rent or buy food.

Mbarara City, once a strong force in western Uganda with Kakyeka Stadium as a fortress, are now playing home games away in Kamwenge at Rwamwanje settlement Stadium and struggling to raise basic matchday resources.

Mbarara City’s case is not isolated. Express FC faced a similar crisis last year when players reportedly went nearly six months without salaries and two months without transport allowances. Training sessions were boycotted, with only ex head coach Badru Kaddu Mukasa reportedly turning up. The absence of the club’s chief executive officer made players feel abandoned, forcing fans to step in to support the team financially.

In 2024, Maroons FC players also went on strike over four months of unpaid salaries. Several key players later left the club due to financial problems. These repeated cases show a league-wide problem that goes beyond one club or one season.

At the heart of the issue is poor league financing and weak governance. While African football giants like Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria and South Africa invest heavily in their leagues, Ugandan clubs struggle. Football equipment is taxed, infrastructure support is low, and many clubs fail to meet contractual obligations to players. Top UPL clubs need about Shs 2 billion per season but often earn less than half of that.

UPL sponsorship money is also small. Each club receives less than Shs 100 million per season from the league sponsor, paid in instalments that often delay. Gate collections are poor, with many matches played before empty stands. Prize money is also very low, with the league winner earning only Shs 60 million, compared to much higher rewards in neighbouring leagues like Tanzania.

Because of poor pay at home, many Ugandan players leave for other countries, sometimes even weaker leagues, simply to earn a living. While moving abroad is not bad, the worrying trend is players leaving due to financial hardship rather than career growth. This weakens the local league and affects national team performance.

To solve this problem, urgent action is needed. Government must invest directly in the Uganda Premier League to stabilize clubs. FUFA must enforce strict financial rules and protect players’ contracts. Clubs must improve transparency and planning. Lower taxes on sports equipment, better prize money and safer stadiums will also attract more fans and income.