Former Assistant Inspector General of Police has resigned as spokesperson and executive member of following a public contradiction with the club secretariat over the nomination fee for the upcoming presidential elections.
Kasingye announced his resignation through his official account on Friday, March 6, after the club released a notice confirming that candidates seeking the presidency must pay a non refundable nomination fee of Shs100 million.
“I have officially resigned as SC Villa spokesman. This is disrespectful. If what I was stating was wrong, you should have had the courtesy of telling me to correct it,” Kasingye posted.
The dispute stems from remarks he made while appearing on The Pavilion on NBS Sport on Thursday evening.
Speaking as the club spokesperson, Kasingye dismissed reports that the nomination fee had been raised to Shs100 million, saying the proposal surfaced during the club’s Annual General Meeting held on Sunday but was not approved by members.
“First and foremost, it is not true that the meeting on Sunday came up with the resolution of 100 million. It was an idea in the meeting but it wasn’t passed. Someone came up with that idea and was advised that Villa can’t take that route,” Kasingye said.
He stressed on air that the Shs20 million fee was the official requirement and the same amount used in the previous electoral cycle.
“Let me put it clearly, the nomination fee, which is in our constitution is 20 million. This is what they paid last time, and this is what is going to be paid.”
His remarks were later contradicted by a statement released by the club secretariat on Friday morning, which said members had resolved that the presidential nomination fee would be Shs100 million.
“This is to clarify that the nomination fee for the position of President of Sports Club Villa was resolved and approved by the members of the Club during a General Meeting to be UGX 100,000,000 (Uganda Shillings One Hundred Million Only),” the statement read.
Kasingye said that if his earlier remarks were inaccurate, the club leadership should have informed him privately rather than contradicting him publicly.
The retired police officer and long time SC Villa supporter had served as the club spokesperson since September 2023 and had been a vocal defender of the club administration.
The controversy comes as the club prepares for presidential elections scheduled for March 22.
Five aspirants have already picked nomination forms, including current president Omar Ahmed Hussein Mandela, Farooq Meywa, Dennis Ssebuggwawo Mbidde, Simeon Kawuma Bulezi and Joseph Muguluma Mbazzi.
According to the election roadmap, the deadline for returning nomination forms is Saturday, March 7. The club trustees will vet candidates on Sunday, March 8.
Any complaints will be handled by the club’s ad hoc committee on March 10, after which the successful candidates will be confirmed ahead of the election.
