Ssewanyana accuses Magogo over 2014 World Cup tickets

Just when you thought focus on Ugandan football was returning to the playing field with little squabbles and bickering in the boardrooms, another integrity accusation popped up on Wednesday.

Ahead of the FUFA elections in August, Makindye West Member of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana wants FUFA president Moses Magogo investigated over allegations that he was involved in the illicit trading of 2014 World Cup tickets that were designated for Ugandans, by FIFA for the 2014 World Cup.

Ssewanyana who is the Shadow Minister for Sports in Parliament, a member of the FUFA Fans Coordinating standing Committee and chairman of Katwe United FC, has consequently petitioned FIFA, arguing that  this was in violation and breach of the FIFA statutes, FIFA Code of Ethics and FIFA disciplinary Code.

He now hopes the evidence he has presented to the FIFA Ethics and Integrity Committee regarding the deal can lead to Magogo's suspension as FUFA president as investigations go on, just like was the case with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2015.

Addressing a press conference flanked by lawyer Allan Mulindwa in Kampala, Ssewanyana said he had raised the petition on behalf of the Ugandan football fan who has witnessed cases of corruption, abuse of office and integrity issues detering football development in the country.

"I sent the petition on May 30 with all material evidence both oral and documentary that clearly implicates Magogo as having acted in breach of the FIFA statutes, disciplinary code and articles 13, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the FIFA code of ethics and as a result of the said actions has dented the image of Ugandan football due to the illegal, immoral and unethical practices and conduct which is the basis of the petition," Ssewanyana reasoned.

"I have equally notified all the other relevant offices in Uganda, mostly the Minister of Education and Sports. I thus call upon all Ugandans who have been a victim of such and other corruption related tendencies to come forward as we tackle the monster of corruption that has bedeviled our sports," Ssewanyana stated.

But Magogo who was recently, at the CAF Congress in Manama Bahrain, appointed a member of the CAF Executive Committee 2017 - 2021 and a member of the CAF Reforms Committee, could not comment on the matter instead referring New Vision to the federation spokesman Ahmed Hussein, who later issued a statement calling the accusations "election-related machinations"

"The details of the petition, its merits and demerits have been submitted to the Lawyers of the Person of FUFA President awaiting any legal steps from whatsoever authorities and any related questions and answers shall be a reserve of the legal team," a statement he issued read.

He said the federation had not received any communication from FIFA regarding the petition and that appropriate response shall be provided when required.

"For the case of 2014, many Ugandans applied for the World Cup Tickets and they paid their ticket face price fees to the FUFA Bank Account. The funds were later remitted to FIFA and Tickets were issued to the persons who paid. At an appropriate time, FUFA will release the list of Ugandan beneficiaries that applied, paid and received their 2014 World Cup Tickets through FUFA and the corresponding bank trails,"

"All Ugandans that applied and paid for the tickets received them without any complaint whatsoever. It is therefore incorrect to allege that FIFA gives FUFA tickets for free distribution to Ugandans and there is no single Ugandan that was disenfranchised of the right to buy a ticket for the 2014 World Cup,"

But in his petition Ssewanyana asserts that the receipt of $5000 by Magogo as part profit from a one US based Howard Schwartz out of the Ugandans designated World Cup tickets for further sale in the US and elsewhere was tantamount to acceptance of gifts and other benefits for personal gain, contrary to Article 21 (2) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, among other accusations.

He said the petition is also not against the FUFA elections but against the person of Magogo whose actions tantamount to actions of corruption and bribery.