Five candidates have picked nomination forms to contest for the presidency of SC Villa ahead of the club’s much anticipated elections scheduled for March 22.
The contenders are Hajji Omar “Mandela” Ahmed Hussein, Denis Ssebugwawo Mbidde, Farooq Meywa, Joseph Muguluma Mbazzi and Simeon Bulezi Kawuma.
Their entry into the race signals the start of a long-awaited leadership process at the record Ugandan champions after months of frustration among supporters over the board’s silence on the club’s governance.
The issue was formally addressed during the club’s Annual General Assembly on March 1 at the team’s training ground in Kulambiro, where trustees chairman Gerald Ssendawula confirmed that elections would be held on March 22 to usher in new leadership.
Under the club statutes, only the position of president will be contested. The elected president will then appoint an executive committee to manage the club’s affairs.
The AGM also resolved that each aspirant must pay a non-refundable nomination fee of Shs100 million, a requirement intended to show the financial ability and commitment needed to guide the club forward.
Electoral committee chairman Brian Kajubi confirmed on Thursday that four candidates had collected nomination forms from the club secretariat before the exercise closed, however at the end of the day through the Club’s X handle number increased to five.
Kajubi said the committee, which also includes Fred Enanga, Brandon Katura and Isaiah Mukisa, is committed to delivering a credible process that reflects the will of the club’s members.
“We know the strength of the club lies in its fans, players and stakeholders. This election gives members the chance to shape the club’s future through their leaders,” Kajubi said.
He added that the process will remain transparent and free from manipulation.
“Our duty is to guarantee fairness. The committee is independent and will not be influenced by external forces,” he said.
According to the electoral roadmap, verification and display of the voters’ register runs from March 1 to March 6, while nomination forms must be returned by March 7 at 5pm.
The forms will then be verified by the electoral committee before being forwarded to the trustees for vetting between March 8 and March 9.
Any disputes from the vetting process will be handled by the club’s Ad Hoc Appeals Committee and resolved by March 10, after which the final list of candidates will be announced and campaigns will begin.
Kajubi noted that the process will follow four key frameworks, the Villa Members Trust Deed, the club regulations, the electoral code issued to candidates and governance principles of FIFA and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations.
With the race now taking shape, attention turns to March 22 when eligible members will vote to choose the next leader of one of Uganda’s most historic football clubs.
