In a candid conversation on NBS Sport on Monday evening, Kennedy Mutenyo, a seasoned promotions manager with over 20 years of experience sponsoring the Copa Coca-Cola secondary school games, took aim at Justus Mugisha, the FUFA Vice President, labeling him as the “problem” in Uganda school football.
Mutenyo’s remarks came on the heels of allegations of age cheating in the recently concluded USSSA games in Masaka where St Julian were crowned champions, which saw same schools, including Jinja Progressive Academy and Jinja Secondary School, eliminated from the tournament. JIPRA has since threatened to take the matter to the National Council of Sports.
“You can’t have good football without good sports administrators,” Mutenyo emphasized. “The people running school sports competitions in this country lack integrity and the ability to do their job.”
Mutenyo specifically pointed to the schools tournament, which is supposed to feature regional champions, but has been “watered down” by inviting schools that didn’t qualify. He also highlighted the long-standing issue of age cheating in sports, which has plagued the sector for years.
Justus Mugisha, however, downplayed the allegations, stating that they have been instructed not to ban schools but instead charge individuals involved in age cheating. Mugisha himself has a history of controversy, having been accused of using an ineligible player in 2005, leading to Standard High school’s elimination.
Mutenyo was scathing in his criticism, suggesting that some individuals, including Mugisha, would end up in prison if a committee were set up to investigate the activities happening in schools football. He also expressed disbelief at the organization of the opening ceremony of the USSSA games when some schools had already been eliminated.
