Uganda hands lifetime ban to ex-player in 2026 fixing case

Kenya’s Sports Amendment Bill has passed the National Assembly & now heads to the Senate.

The hit

Uganda’s football federation FUFA provisionally suspended 13 people in June 2024 over a suspected multi-match-fixing scheme tied to a South Africa-based syndicate, according to iGB. Fifa later extended worldwide bans on 7 of those already sanctioned domestically, FUFA sanctioned a further 12 people in November 2024, & in June 2026 its ethics committee found 4 players & a club administrator guilty of fixing a Uganda Premier League match, with ex-player Feni Ali given a lifetime ban as an intermediary.

Why it matters

Sports integrity expert Moses Swaibu says detection is improving faster than prevention across Africa, & fixers exploit financially vulnerable players & referees rather than greedy ones. For bettors, it means more scrutiny on lower-league & women’s fixtures where fixing tends to happen, & a growing legal risk for anyone involved.

The record

Uganda referee & player bans (Fifa, worldwide)	5-year bans for 5 players, 10-year bans for 2 referees
Uganda second sanctions round (FUFA, Nov 2024)	12 people sanctioned, 1 lifetime ban, others 1-10 years
Uganda 2026 case (FUFA, June)	Ex-player Feni Ali given lifetime ban as fixer intermediary
Burundi bans (cited by Swaibu)	6 players & a director banned 5 years over 10x salary payments
Kenya proposed penalty (Sports Amendment Bill 2026)	Fine up to 3x value involved or KSh10m (whichever higher), imprisonment up to 5 years, or both
Fifa finding on Muhoroni Youth (May 2025)	Kenyan club found to have engaged in match manipulation

What happens next

Kenya’s bill is now with the Senate for public participation & needs presidential assent to become law. Mali’s ethics commission has yet to rule on the Afrique Football Elite v AS Korofina match.

Sources: African football faces growing pressure over match manipulation

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