Money lures Ugandans to Rwanda

By Andrew Jackson Oryada
BBC Sport, Kampala

APR of Rwanda reportedly still owe Uganda's Express for three players

Playing in the Rwandan league has become an attractive prospect for several Ugandan players who are crossing the border to ply their trade there.

But the players, who are moving to earn better wages, are said to be leaving Ugandan clubs without obtaining their International Transfer Certificates (ITC).

An investigation by BBC sport reveals that just four of the estimated 30 Ugandans in the Rwandan league have the correct paperwork.

One of the players who does have an ITC is Manfred Kizito, who plays for APR.

We need to solve this problem because we all belong to the Cecafa region Brigadier Caesar Kayizari, president of the Rwanda Football Federation

Kizito told BBC Sport he does not regret the decision to leave his homeland.

"I'm enjoying my time in Rwanda because our win bonuses here are about US $60. In Uganda, that can be a player's monthly pay," he explained.

Many players are keen to follow Kizito's footsteps but complain that Ugandan clubs frustrate legitimate transfers to Rwanda.

They claim this attitude has left them with no choice but to resort to illegal methods to secure a move abroad.

"My team wouldn't let me go to Rwanda, so I decided to go without an ITC and changed my name when I got there," one player explained to BBC Sport.

Uncertain identities

The change of identity makes it particularly difficult for Ugandan clubs to track their missing players.

Haruna Mawanda, the secretary of the Ugandan Football Association, Fufa, admitted that the practice is widespread.

"Players don't ask for their ITC's because they think that they can easily change their names in Rwanda," he said.

One player reportedly in Rwanda without an ITC is Malidadi Bukenya.

SC Villa, his former Ugandan club, claim Bukenya abandoned the team and did not follow established international transfer procedures.

Uganda's Express are one of the teams to suffer as players go to Rwanda

"We are trying to find the whereabouts of Malididi Bukenya through official channels," Tushar Ruparelia, an SC Villa official told BBC Sport.

"He left SC Villa without the correct paperwork and we believe he is now in Rwanda.

"He didn't ask us for an ITC because he knew we wouldn't let him move.

"We had only just signed him and no other club approached us for a transfer.

"It seems that Rwandan clubs are prepared to pay the wages but not the transfer fees to buy players," Ruparelia claimed.

Fufa's Mawanda insists that they are gathering more information on the erring Ugandan players in Rwanda before sending a complaint to Fifa.

Brigadier Caesar Kayizari, the president of the Rwanda Football Federation, Ferwafa, said they will work with their Ugandan colleagues to tackle the problem.

Kayizari insisted all Ugandan players found not to have ITC's will be asked to return home and obtain the correct paperwork.

"We need to solve this problem because we all belong to the Cecafa region and need to help each other," he said.