The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bulemeezi County has been banned from this year’s Buganda Kingdom Masaza Cup football tournament over indiscipline by the fans.
The ban follows an investigation into the chaos that erupted after the semi-final return leg on October 16, 2022 against Buddu County at Kasana playground in Luwero town council, Luwero district.
A ruling made on October 26, 2022 by the Ethics and Disciplinary committee, a copy of which URN has seen, Bulemeezi County will not play their third place classification game with Ssingo County and will be deducted two points in next year’s edition.
In the committee’s findings on October 19, 2022, Bulemeezi fans were faulted for beating up 11 Buddu fans and damaging 13 vehicles. It was against this background that Buddu decided to report the case to the Ethics committee.
Similarly, Bulemeezi also accused Buddu fans of stealing and beating up people after the game.
In their defence however, Bulemeezi had also revealed that Buddu fans entered the stadium by force without paying. The committee used video footages to rule on the matter.
On top of the ban, Bulemeezi will have to pay a fine of five million shillings for failing to control their fans, coaches and players from attacking the match officials. They will also play three of their home games next year at a neutral ground.
The committee further ruled that Bulemeezi coaches Ronald Ssali, Kinene Yusuf, and Leo Ssekamate, have been banned for one year during which they will be barred from performing any management roles in the competition.
Four Bulemeezi players — Ssessazi Sulaiman, Oloya Habibu, Zizinga Ashraf, and Bagenda Abdul, — have also been banned for two years without featuring in the competition for attacking match officials.
Further still, one Bulemeezi fan identified as Patrick Bunya has also been banned from appearing at any Masaza Cup games for five years.
Buddu County has meanwhile been fined two million shillings for failing to control their fans from invading the stadium immediately after the final whistle. Twaha Mukasa, the Chairperson of the disciplinary committee explained.
Meanwhile, the dates for the final of the prestigious tournament in the Kingdom is yet to be set. Buddu and Busiro will lock horns in this year’s final.
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