SC Villa Elections Dispute Deepens as Aspirants Petition FUFA While Mandela Emerges as Sole Candidate

A fresh wave of governance controversy has engulfed Uganda’s most decorated football institution, SC Villa, after three presidential aspirants formally petitioned the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to suspend the club’s forthcoming elections over what they describe as serious irregularities in the electoral process. The petition has reignited debate about transparency and democratic governance within the historic club, drawing national attention to a leadership contest that could shape the future direction of one of Uganda’s most celebrated football institutions.

The appeal was contained in a detailed letter dated March 7, 2026, addressed to FUFA President Moses Hashim Magogo and the federation’s Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson Suubi. In the strongly worded communication, the aspirants urged the national football governing body to urgently intervene and arbitrate the escalating disputes among club members before the scheduled elections take place. They argue that the prevailing environment surrounding the electoral process does not guarantee a credible, transparent, and inclusive election.

The petitioners, Denis Mbidde Ssebuggwawo, Joseph Muguluma Mbazzi, and Farouq Meywa, are all prominent figures who had initially expressed interest in contesting for the club’s presidency. Through their legal representatives, they appealed to FUFA to exercise its statutory mandate of resolving disputes among football stakeholders whenever governance disagreements threaten the orderly administration of affiliated clubs.

At the centre of the dispute is the leadership of incumbent president Omar Ahmed Mandela, whose administration the aspirants accuse of presiding over what they describe as an unprofessional, oppressive, and undemocratic governance structure. According to the petition, the leadership’s mandate allegedly expired in August 2025, yet officials are said to have continued operating in office while suspending certain provisions of the club’s statutes.

The aspirants argue that extending leadership authority without proper constitutional procedures undermines the democratic traditions that have historically guided the governance of the club. They insist that decisions concerning the leadership of such an iconic football institution must emerge from transparent and participatory processes that reflect the will of the wider membership. Transparency in financial management has also emerged as a key issue in the petition. The aspirants allege that the administration has failed to convene a properly constituted Annual General Meeting for the past five years, a forum that traditionally allows members to review the club’s progress and deliberate on governance matters affecting its future.

Closely related to this concern is the claim that audited financial statements have not been presented to members during this period. The petitioners argue that such omissions deny members the opportunity to scrutinize how the club’s resources are being managed and weaken the accountability structures expected in modern football governance.

Another grievance highlighted in the complaint relates to the development of the electoral roadmap for the upcoming leadership contest. The aspirants claim that the current officials unilaterally designed and announced the roadmap without consulting the majority of the club’s membership. According to the petitioners, such unilateral actions contradict the participatory governance framework expected under the statutes of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. They argue that any electoral roadmap must be developed through broad consultation to ensure legitimacy and collective ownership among members.

One of the most controversial issues raised in the petition concerns the nomination fees required for individuals seeking elective office within the club. According to the aspirants, the administration imposed a non-refundable nomination fee of UGX 100 million for presidential aspirants. The complainants argue that this amount is significantly higher than the UGX 2 million provided for under the club’s 2021 electoral guidelines. In their view, the steep increase effectively excludes many capable members from contesting leadership positions and introduces a financial barrier that undermines democratic participation.

The aspirants also questioned the choice of the election venue, reportedly East High Secondary School. They claim that the venue cannot be considered neutral because it is closely associated with the incumbent leadership. In their view, holding electoral meetings at such a venue could discourage open participation from members who may hold opposing views. They therefore argue that a neutral venue would foster greater confidence and fairness throughout the electoral process.

The petition further referenced an alleged confrontation during a meeting held on March 1, 2026, where aspirant Denis Mbidde Ssebuggwawo reportedly encountered verbal and physical hostility while attempting to attend the gathering. According to the complaint, the matter has since been reported to the police, and the aspirants argue that the incident illustrates the tense atmosphere currently surrounding governance matters at the club.

Despite the growing dispute surrounding the electoral process, developments within the nomination exercise indicate that the incumbent president Omar Ahmed Mandela could be retained to lead the club for another four-year term from 2026 to 2030. This follows the closure of the nomination submission deadline on Saturday, March 7, 2026, when Mandela emerged as the only aspirant to return the completed nomination forms among the five individuals who had initially picked them to contest for the club’s presidency.

Confirming the development in a public statement, the chairperson of the club’s Electoral Commission, Brian Kajubi, revealed that only one candidate had fulfilled all the required conditions within the stipulated timeframe. Kajubi explained that by the closure of submissions, only Omar Ahmed Hussein had returned duly completed nomination forms, prompting the Electoral Commission to forward his name and accompanying documents to the club’s trustees for vetting and further processing.

Earlier during the nomination window, five individuals had picked nomination forms from the club secretariat expressing interest in contesting for the club’s supreme leadership position. These included Farouq Meywa, Omar Ahmed Hussein, Denis Mbidde Ssebuggwawo, Simeon Kawuma Bulezi, and Joseph Muguluma Mbazzi. According to the Electoral Commission chairperson, Muguluma had collected the nomination forms through an agent who obtained them on his behalf from the club secretariat.

Following the vetting process conducted by the club’s trustees, the successful candidate is expected to be formally declared by March 10, 2026. This will be followed by a fan registration exercise scheduled to run until March 15 ahead of the elective congress planned for March 22.

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction among sections of the club’s supporters has already spilled onto the streets. On Friday, March 6, 2026, a group of fans marched to FUFA House carrying placards in what they described as a peaceful demonstration against an unfair electoral process. The protest was later dispersed by police using tear gas, and about fifteen fans were reportedly arrested during the operation, highlighting the intensity of emotions surrounding the club’s leadership contest.

Founded in 1975, SC Villa remains one of the most successful clubs in the history of Ugandan football. The Jogoos boast a record 17 Uganda Premier League titles, nine Uganda Cup triumphs, and three CECAFA Club championships.

With a passionate fan base across the country and within the diaspora, the club’s leadership affairs continue to attract widespread attention. As the dispute unfolds, many stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether intervention by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations will influence the electoral process or whether the club will proceed toward confirming its next president unopposed.