By Frank Kamuntu
The Federation of Ugandan Football Association (FUFA) have opened investigations into bribery allegations being levelled against referee Emmanuel Kiwewa.
The local federation have opened investigations into alleged claims the referee received a bribe before a University match
Kiwewa, who has also been officiating over top-flight league games, was suspended by the FUFA Referees Standing Committee (FRSC) on Tuesday evening for allegedly soliciting a bribe.
“The [FUFA] referees standing committee has been made aware of allegations against you following the incidents in the context of the match between UMU vs SLAU played on October 18, 2019 at Nkozi grounds of which the details are that you contacted a university official soliciting for a bribe so as to manipulate or influence the results of the aforementioned match,” FRSC communication published bya local daily reads in part.
The committee also forwarded the matter to Fufa’s ethics investigatory chamber for further investigations.
Acting FUFA president Justus Mugisha told the press on Thursday that they are going to follow the matter to its logical conclusion but won’t interfere with the investigation.
“I’m glad the committee is working on him and we want to get to the bottom of this. The bribery vice must be stopped,” he said.
In the audio, Kiwewa allegedly requested for Shs1m to fix the results of the semi-final return leg match between Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and St Lawrence in the University Football League that was played last Friday in Nkozi.
“Tell the manager to finalise everything today. There is no Ugandan player currently who is not worried when I’m on the field of play,” the voice tagged to Kiwewa can be heard telling Mugerwa.
Kiwewa had already courted controversy in the top flight this season after cancelling a Ronald Sempala header which he thought had gone wide of the goal, but should have given Bright Stars the lead in their 1-1 draw against KCCA FC.
He was also accused of bias in a 2018 Uganda Cup semi-final fixture at Kitende, in which he awarded what then SC Villa coach Wasswa Bbosa described as a dubious free-kick which resulted in the only goal of the game being scored.
