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, inner 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 shortly developed into an influence battle inside Villa’s management ranks.
In line with Misagga, his rising reputation amongst supporters alarmed senior officers who feared he was gaining affect akin to the then membership president Franco Mugabe.
That stress would outline a lot of his journey at Villa.
The Mwanza Miracle That Modified All the things
Some of the outstanding 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 instructed Misagga that if he may elevate the funds, he may take the staff to the event.
He accepted the problem.
By way of the help of well-wishers, together with Mike Mukula, James Kazini, Poteli Kivuna, and businessman Chris Mubiru, the staff managed to journey.
Then Denis Obua, who was FUFA president and CECAFA chairman on the time, offered free gas to help the journey.
However the issues have been removed from over.
A number of senior gamers refused to journey, fearing they’d 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.
Throughout 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 received the CECAFA title.
Mwalala completed because the event’s high scorer, whereas Onyango stored 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 staff again to Kampala.
The gamers have been hosted at a state dinner and the membership obtained a staff bus that’s reportedly nonetheless in use at this time.
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 supplied 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 instructed him the membership was prepared handy over management if he may shoulder the monetary accountability.
On election day, Kawuma withdrew from the race and pledged help.
However earlier than Misagga might be declared unopposed, chaos erupted.
A gaggle 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 court docket redress, he stepped apart and targeted on enterprise tasks 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 cut up into two factions.
The Muwema-led Villa competed in a separate league, whereas a fans-led staff 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 dealing with 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 way 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 payment.
He discovered the membership in complete disarray.
The Revival of Villa
Misagga launched an bold rebuilding marketing campaign.
He cleared 4 years of lease funds for Villa Park and commenced nationwide fan mobilisation.
Villa completed second within the league, narrowly shedding the title to Vipers SC.
Extra importantly, the membership received the Uganda Cup within the 2014–2015 season, defeating KCCA FC.
It was Villa’s first main trophy in over a decade.
Fan branches have been opened throughout the nation.
Inside a 12 months, the membership’s registered fan base exceeded 20,000 members.
To strengthen Villa’s cultural id, standard musicians together with King Saha, Irene Ntale, Rema Namakula, Winnie Nwagi, and Mathias Walukagga turned membership ambassadors.
Continental Desires and Rising Tensions
By 2016, Villa was competing within the CAF Confederation Cup.
Involved concerning 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 supplied $2,000 in the 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 ultimately eradicated, Villa received 5 of their six matches within the competitors.
Intrigue and Collapse
Regardless of the progress, Misagga claims highly effective forces throughout the membership labored to undermine the administration.
Branches that had supported the staff financially have been allegedly instructed to cease their contributions.
There have been reviews that gamers had been approached to lose key matches.
Misagga additionally found that 12 entities had registered the title “Villa” on the Uganda Registration Companies Bureau, creating confusion amongst sponsors.
Villa ultimately misplaced an important title-deciding match towards Vipers SC, ending their championship hopes.
Gamers refused to resume contracts and tensions escalated throughout the membership workplaces.
The Closing Choice
Confronted with escalating battle, Misagga made a dramatic transfer.
Invoking the biblical judgment of King Solomon, he referred to as a common 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
Right now, Misagga says his combat is now not about returning to energy.
As an alternative, he needs structural reforms to make sure the membership operates below a clear company governance mannequin.
He has criticised the Shs. 100 million nomination payment for the presidency, arguing it excludes strange 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 id, and possession, stays removed from over
