The Rubaga/Nateete Magistrates Court has remanded five individuals accused of selling counterfeit tickets for last week’s Uganda vs Guinea FIFA World Cup qualifier match at Namboole Stadium.
The suspects identified as Kaga Ibrahim, Ssenkangu Ronald, Lubega Moses Mukiibi, Musasizi Stuart, and Bukenya Ephraim were arraigned in court on Monday and ordered to remain in custody until April 16, 2025, as investigations into the ticket fraud continue.
Their arrest followed multiple complaints from football fans who were denied entry to the crucial match on March 25 after presenting invalid passes.
Security officials launched an immediate crackdown, leading to the apprehension of the group last week.
FUFA and the stadium security team have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring genuine ticket holders have a smooth entry process.
Authorities had previously warned fans about counterfeit tickets and urged them to purchase only from authorized vendors.
In response to recurring ticket fraud, FUFA recently introduced enhanced security features such as barcodes, unique colors, and silver linings to prevent counterfeiting.
However, fraudsters continue to exploit high demand, deceiving unsuspecting supporters.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in tackling ticket forgery, with past matches also witnessing fans being turned away due to fake tickets.
Football authorities and law enforcement agencies are now under pressure to implement stricter measures to curb such scams in the future.