Mbale Heroes Football Club has plunged deeper into crisis after confirming that five of their players have gone missing from the team camp without leave or permission.
In an official statement, the club stated that the players, including Tonny Kiberu, Sula Mpanga, Pius Kaggwa, Oscar Ssesazi, and Solomon Opolot absconded from duty.
The club further condemned the players’ actions, citing them as breaches of contractual obligations and violations of FUFA rules governing player status and transfers.
All the five missing players joined Mbale Heroes at the start of the season, with Pius Kaggwa previously playing for Police and Wakiso Giants, and Solomon Opolot arriving from Kyetume.
Sula Mpanga, Tonny Kiberu, and Oscar Ssesazi were brought in from Maroons and NEC, respectively.
Unverified reports suggest that the players’ disappearance may be linked to unpaid salary arrears, although the club has yet to address these allegations.
It also remains unclear what measures the club will take against the missing players.
The missing players situation comes days after the club suspended their head coach Asaph Mwebaze for 28 days, for alleged professional misconduct and unethical behavior.
The suspension, announced by club chairperson Andrew Wambi on December 27, 2024, followed accusations that Mwebaze attacked club leadership and fans on social media and engaged in confrontations after their 0-4 loss to Vipers.
Interim coach Mubarak Wamboya Abu, formerly of Gaddafi and Onduparaka, was tasked with leading the team through their final two first-round fixtures against Maroons and NEC.
Mbale Heroes are second from the bottom of the Uganda Premier League table with just nine points from 13 games.
Their poor run has included two wins, three draws, and eight losses.
The club will face Maroons, who are currently fifth on the log with 19 points, and have lost only once in their last five outings, today at 4pm at Luzira Prisons Grounds.
