Makerere drags University Football League to court over expulsion

Oct 31, 2017

The match was called off at the eleventh hour after a breach of the rules and regulations of the league

Makerere University soccer team has dragged the Nile Special University Football League to the Civil Division of the High Court over its expulsion from the tournament. 

The team led by Ismael Sabaidu wants a declaration that the expulsion of Makerere from the ongoing season and the imposition of other penalties are unjustified, unlawful, and are null and void.

The university side argues that the decision by the respondent's disciplinary committee on 19th October infringed or threatened to infringe on the rights of the team. 

The petitioners include; Bruno Bayube, Emmanuel Agaba and Brian Amwiine.

They also want a permanent injunction restraining the respondents, its servants, agents, associates and or partners from enforcing the impugned decision against the soccer team. 

The team further seeks for a mandatory injunction compelling the respondent to immediately organize a quarterfinal match between Gulu University and Makerere. 

In their application, the students also want an order directing the competition's organizers to compensate them for breach of the team's legitimate expectations. 

They include; fair, equal and just brand reputation and morale, loss of chance to win the two tournaments at issue, disruption of the team's preparations and contractual commitments, among other inconveniences. They also want an order directing the respondent to pay costs of the suit.

It is alleged that on 12th October at around 2pm, Makerere was ready to play away against Busitema as part of the 2017 season of University Football League.

Unfortunately, the match was called off at the eleventh hour after a breach of the rules and regulations of the league had allegedly occurred in the Busitema University dining hall.

The court filings indicate that on 14th October the UFL disciplinary committee secretary conducted disciplinary proceedings against Makerere in the absence of, and without the knowledge of any of the officials, players or fans of Makerere. 

The committee subsequently passed a decision comprising a series of penalties and sanctions against the team.

They further contend that the team was expelled from the competition for the remaining part of the 2017 season and the whole of the 2018 season and were ordered to pay a fine of sh500,000 and sh5m as compensation to Busitema.

They assert that Makerere was not given any hearing by the disciplinary committee but only learnt of the disciplinary proceedings on 16th when they were served with the ruling they are disputing.

Court documents also indicate that on 17th October, the Makerere sports tutor lodged an appeal with the tournament's organizing committee on behalf of Makerere against the impugned decision.

On 20th October the organizing committee sitting as the appeals committee of the tournament dismissed the appeal and upheld the original decision of the committee.

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