By Victor Kanayo
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has announced a permanent ban on three referees over allegations of match-fixing.
This was disclosed by the Federation in a letter addressed to the affected referees, confirming the latest development.
Part of the letter, signed by FERWAFA Secretary-General Adolphe Kalisa, reads, “Based on the decision of the refereeing commission meeting held on 16 December 2024, which found you guilty of misconduct incompatible with the values of refereeing—specifically your role in connecting referees with individuals involved in match-fixing—I am writing to inform you that you are hereby dismissed as a FERWAFA referee, effective immediately.”
The referees involved are Amida Hemedi, Ally Uwimana, and Djihadi Mbarute.
According to the Federation, the trio conspired to manipulate matches in the Rwanda Premier League on multiple occasions.
Specific Offences
Amida Hemedi is believed to be the ringleader behind the scandal and has been identified as the central figure coordinating these illicit activities, which are in direct violation of football regulations.
Ally Uwimana was penalised for allegedly encouraging fellow referees to place bets on matches they were officiating, while Djihadi Mbarute is accused of acting as an intermediary, receiving payments from individuals seeking to influence match outcomes.
As part of the sanctions, Hemedi has been stripped of her FERWAFA refereeing credentials.
