Mbale Heroes officials have acknowledged deep governance and financial challenges facing the club, while outlining urgent measures aimed at stabilising its season in the FUFA Big League.
The issues were discussed during an extraordinary meeting held on Saturday, 31 January 2026 at Mbale Stadium, chaired by acting chairperson Counsel Ojok Geoffrey. The meeting was briefly interrupted by heavy rainfall before resuming later.
Ojok told members that Mbale Heroes is currently being run by a small group of officials following the resignation of several leaders after the club’s relegation from the Uganda Premier League last season. He said the reduced leadership structure has complicated decision making at a time when the team is already struggling on the pitch.
The acting chairperson admitted that the club endured a poor first round in the FUFA Big League, leaving it at risk of another relegation battle. He said management remains committed to avoiding further demotion and believes results can improve if supporters and stakeholders continue backing the team through the remainder of the season.
A key concern raised was the UGX 11 million debt owed to former head coach Asap Mwebaze. Ojok explained that the unresolved payment has triggered a ban on registering new players, limiting the club’s ability to strengthen the squad. Members agreed that clearing the debt must be treated as a priority to restore competitiveness.
The meeting also appealed to the Chairman of the Eastern Region League and father of Hajji Chemusito Badru, widely known as Bado, to return to the club. Members described him as central to Mbale Heroes’ growth, arguing that misunderstandings and internal disputes, allegedly driven by individuals acting against the club’s interests, led to his withdrawal along with other officials.
Supporters present issued a strong warning to anyone they believe is attempting to destabilise the club’s leadership. In a show of unity, members and fans agreed to collectively raise funds to settle the outstanding debt to Mwebaze and pledged logistical and moral support for the team ahead of its upcoming away fixture in Bushenyi.
