Few figures in Ugandan soccer evoke as a lot debate, admiration, and controversy as Immanuel Ben Misagga, the outspoken former chief of SC Villa.
In an in depth account of his decades-long affiliation with the document Ugandan champions, Misagga paints a dramatic image of triumphs, inside intrigue, monetary rescue missions, and what he describes as repeated makes an attempt by highly effective people to dominate the membership.
His story stretches again to the Nineties, however its most defining chapters start in 2001, when the late Kevin Ogen Aliro nominated him because the membership’s nationwide coordinator. The appointment was unanimously accepted by the membership’s administration.
But what started as a fan mobilisation function rapidly advanced into an influence battle inside Villa’s management ranks.
In keeping with Misagga, his rising recognition amongst supporters alarmed senior officers who feared he was gaining affect corresponding to the then membership president Franco Mugabe.
That rigidity would outline a lot of his journey at Villa.
The Mwanza Miracle That Modified All the things
One of the vital exceptional moments in Villa’s trendy historical past got here in 2004, forward of the CECAFA Membership Championship in Mwanza, Tanzania.
On the time, Villa’s management admitted the membership was broke.
Mugabe and membership secretary Edward Luyimbazi Mugalu advised Misagga that if he might increase the funds, he might take the workforce to the match.
He accepted the problem.
Via the assist of well-wishers, together with Mike Mukula, James Kazini, Poteli Kivuna, and businessman Chris Mubiru, the workforce managed to journey.
Then Denis Obua, who was FUFA president and CECAFA chairman on the time, supplied free gasoline to assist the journey.
However the issues had been removed from over.
A number of senior gamers refused to journey, fearing they might not obtain their allowances.
Misagga, due to this fact, travelled with a younger and comparatively unknown squad. Amongst them was a little-known third-choice goalkeeper named Denis Onyango.
Through the journey, Misagga realized that Kenyan striker Bernard Mwalala was accessible.
He personally paid Shs12 million to signal the striker from Gor Mahia.
The gamble paid off spectacularly.
Villa gained the CECAFA title.
Mwalala completed because the match’s high scorer, whereas Onyango saved a clear sheet all through the competitors.
The triumph triggered nationwide celebration.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame awarded the membership $30,000, whereas Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni chartered a aircraft to fly the workforce again to Kampala.
The gamers had been hosted at a state dinner and the membership acquired a workforce bus that’s reportedly nonetheless in use at present.
The victory marked a symbolic rebirth for Villa after the 2003 match-fixing scandal that had shaken Ugandan soccer and pushed away sponsors and followers.
A Presidency Denied
Buoyed by the success, Misagga provided himself for the Villa presidency in 2005.
Simply days earlier than the election, Villa’s high officers invited him to a gathering on the Kampala Serena Resort.
These current included Mugabe, Omar Ahmed Mandela, Man Kawuma, Andrew Patrick Luwandagga, Topher Musoke, and Luyimbazi.
They advised him the membership was prepared handy over management if he might shoulder the monetary duty.
On election day, Kawuma withdrew from the race and pledged assist.
However earlier than Misagga might be declared unopposed, chaos erupted.
A bunch of rowdy people stormed the assembly and compelled its cancellation.
Misagga later alleged that Mandela had sponsored the disruption.
The management reverted to Mugabe and Mandela, successfully halting what Misagga believes would have been a brand new period for the membership.
As an alternative of in search of courtroom redress, he stepped apart and centered on enterprise initiatives in Zambia.
Villa’s Collapse and a Name for Rescue
In 2010, Mugabe and Mandela handed management to lawyer Fred Muwema.
However stability by no means returned.
By 2012, the membership break up into two factions.
The Muwema-led Villa competed in a separate league, whereas a fans-led workforce headed by Salim Semmanda and supported by Moses Magogo performed within the FUFA-organized competitors.
By 2013, Muwema had deserted the membership.
Villa was once more going through collapse.
In 2014, then FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa and sports activities minister Charles Bakkabulindi travelled to Ndola, Zambia, urging Misagga to return and rescue the membership.
He agreed.
On the time, Villa risked eviction from Villa Park after six years of unpaid lease charges.
Misagga responded with a Shs. 300 million mortgage by means of his firm, Lusaka Commodities, to stabilize the membership.
Later that 12 months he was elected SC Villa president unopposed after paying a Shs. 10 million nomination price.
He discovered the membership in whole disarray.
The Revival of Villa
Misagga launched an bold rebuilding marketing campaign.
He cleared 4 years of lease funds for Villa Park and started nationwide fan mobilisation.
Villa completed second within the league, narrowly shedding the title to Vipers SC.
Extra importantly, the membership gained the Uganda Cup within the 2014–2015 season, defeating KCCA FC.
It was Villa’s first main trophy in over a decade.
Fan branches had been opened throughout the nation.
Inside a 12 months, the membership’s registered fan base exceeded 20,000 members.
To strengthen Villa’s cultural identification, common musicians together with King Saha, Irene Ntale, Rema Namakula, Winnie Nwagi, and Mathias Walukagga turned membership ambassadors.
Continental Goals and Rising Tensions
By 2016, Villa was competing within the CAF Confederation Cup.
Involved in regards to the monetary pressure, pastor Robert Kayanja tried to reunite former Villa leaders.
A gathering was organized at Cafe Javas, however Mugabe and Mandela didn’t attend.
Solely William Nkemba appeared and provided $2,000 in direction of the membership’s journey prices.
Kayanja contributed $10,000.
Later, President Yoweri Museveni gave the membership Shs400 million after studying of Villa’s continental success.
Although finally eradicated, Villa gained 5 of their six matches within the competitors.
Intrigue and Collapse
Regardless of the progress, Misagga claims highly effective forces inside the membership labored to undermine the administration.
Branches that had supported the workforce financially had been allegedly instructed to cease their contributions.
There have been studies that gamers had been approached to lose key matches.
Misagga additionally found that 12 entities had registered the identify “Villa” on the Uganda Registration Providers Bureau, creating confusion amongst sponsors.
Villa finally misplaced an important title-deciding match in opposition to Vipers SC, ending their championship hopes.
Gamers refused to resume contracts and tensions escalated inside the membership places of work.
The Remaining Resolution
Confronted with escalating battle, Misagga made a dramatic transfer.
Invoking the biblical judgment of King Solomon, he referred to as a normal assembly and introduced he wouldn’t search one other time period.
He handed over all membership property and liabilities to the Federation of Uganda Soccer Associations with audited accounts displaying no money owed.
The Battle for Villa’s Future
At present, Misagga says his struggle is now not about returning to energy.
As an alternative, he desires structural reforms to make sure the membership operates beneath a clear company governance mannequin.
He has criticised the Shs. 100 million nomination price for the presidency, arguing it excludes atypical supporters.
His proposal is to create a Villa SACCO utilizing membership assets to empower followers and strengthen Villa’s monetary basis.
For Misagga, the way forward for Villa lies not in highly effective people however within the energy of its supporters.
And as Uganda’s most adorned membership continues to seek for stability, the controversy over Villa’s identification, and possession, stays removed from over
