Magomu: I am the Messiah Of Ugandan Rugby

Rugby Cranes 15s Captain Ivan Magomu says that he’s the messiah of Ugandan rugby.

Magomu revealed this while appearing on the Fat Cats Podcast as he faces a turbulent period with the sports governing body, Uganda Rugby Union.

Magomu, who is also the Stanbic Black Pirates captain, is currently on the verge of facing a six-month ban from the sport for allegedly bringing the sport into disrepute. Additionally, the flamboyant flyhalf also risks losing his captaincy for the national team.This is according to recommendations from the Union’s Disciplinary Committee led by Jeroline Akubu.

Magomu Ivan’s Troubles

Magomu was facing the DC on two charges, including one of allegedly assaulting match officials. In this charge, it was alleged the Pirates captain assaulted a match official following his team’s loss to Platinum Credit Heathens in the Rugby Championship Final. However, according to World Rugby Regulations, an appeal should have been logged within 48 hours of the June 1st finale. On this, the DC ruled that the charge would not stand considering the lapse of time.

However, the charge that brought controversy was bringing the game of rugby into disrepute. This was based on a post by Magomu on social media platform X in response to Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi’s declaration that National Council of Sports General Secretary Dr. Bernad Ogwel was unfit to be the accounting officer of the sports community.

According to the Union, Magomu’s call for accountability for athletes in his reaction violated their Code of Conduct. The developments from the DC have caused tensions among the rugby faithful, with the hashtag #IStandWithMagomu trending.

A number of fans reiterated a belief that the national team captain was being targeted for calling a spade a spade. Magomu is no stranger to this conversation, as he has advocated for player welfare over the years.

By presstime, URU had not delivered the verdict of the DC hearing to Magomu. However, the mercurial flyhalf’s lawyers had written to the Union expressing their disappointment in the delay.

This is to bring it to your attention that our client is aggrieved by the impugned proceedings and ruling. Thus, he intends to appeal against the same under Article 12 of the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) Constitution. Although it is now close to 48 hours since the ruling was given, we have not yet been furnished with a copy of the ruling nor a record of the proceedings. This is happening in spite of us sharing a couple of emails with the URU Disciplinary Committee (URU DC) that have since gone without a response.-Timothy Kajja, Ivan Magomu’s lawyer.