Uganda Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee has recommended a six-month ban from all rugby activities for Ivan Magomu, the Uganda Cranes skipper and Black Pirates RFC player.
The DC has also recommended that the Magomu be stripped of his captaincy role in the national team.
Ivan Magomu summon
The player has however appealed the decision. The DC summoned Magomu on August 8 to respond to allegations of misconduct against a match official and bringing the sport into disrepute following a controversial social media post he made on his official X platform on July 31, 2024.
The post involved a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, directing the National Council of Sports (NCS) to replace its General Secretary, Dr. Bernard Ogwel. Magomu’s post was deemed by the Uganda Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Jeroline Akubu, to be premature and damaging to the sport.
In the second charge related to the abuse of match officials during the Rugby Championship final on June 1, 2024, where it was alleged that he verbally and physically attacked the referees during the match, the disciplinary panel did not rule on this charge, agreeing with Magomu’s lawyer, Timothy Kajja, that the case was out of time as it was not brought forward within 48 hours and the individual charged within two weeks.
Peter Odong, the Uganda Rugby Union Secretary in a statement on Thursday 15 August 2024 reiterated the disciplinary charges put on Ivan Magomu and confirmed that an appeal had been submitted saying that the Uganda Rugby Union will not talk on the issue until the appeal process is done.
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“After careful consideration of the evidence presented and Mr Magomu’s testimony, the Disciplinary Committee
recommended the following sanctions:
1. Mr Magomu is to be suspended from all rugby-related activities, including participation in any
administrative capacities within the Stanbic Bank Black Pirates Rugby Club, for twenty-four (24)
weeks. This suspension is to take effect from 16th August 2024.
2. The Committee recommended that Mr Magomu be immediately relieved of his duties as Captain
of the Uganda Rugby National Men’s XVs team.
These charges and the resulting disciplinary recommendations have been officially communicated to Mr Magomu
and the management of the Stanbic Bank Black Pirates Rugby Club.
An appeal has been received by the Uganda Rugby Union, and we shall proceed to constitute an Appeals
Committee as guided under Article 12 of the Uganda Rugby Union Constitution.
The Uganda Rugby Union will not issue any further public statement regarding this matter until the appeal process
has been fully concluded”, Peter Odong stated.
