Nateete Magistrates Court has remanded five individuals accused of selling counterfeit tickets for the Uganda Vs Guinea FIFA World Cup qualifier match.
The suspects, identified as Kaga Ibrahim, Ssenkangu Ronald, Lubega Moses Mukiibi, Musasizi Stuart, and Bukenya Ephraim, appeared before the court on Monday, where they were ordered to remain in custody until April 16, 2025, pending further investigations and trial.
The group was apprehended last week following reports that they had been selling fake tickets to unsuspecting football fans ahead of the crucial match, which took place at Namboole Stadium on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Authorities launched a crackdown after several ticket holders were denied entry due to invalid passes, prompting an immediate response from security officials.
The arrest and subsequent prosecution of the suspects underscore FUFA’s and the Namboole Stadium security team’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and secure entry process for genuine ticket holders.
Prior to the Guinea match, FUFA and the Uganda Police Force had issued warnings about counterfeit tickets, urging fans to purchase only from authorized vendors.
In previous Cranes matches, several fans had been denied entry after unknowingly purchasing fake tickets, leading to frustration and calls for stricter enforcement against fraudsters.
To combat ticket forgery, FUFA announced last week the introduction of enhanced security features, including barcodes, unique colors, and silver linings, to make counterfeiting more difficult.
Despite these stringent measures, fraudsters continue to exploit the high demand for tickets, deceiving unsuspecting football enthusiasts.