Moses Magogo, the President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), has found himself embroiled in the fallout from US sanctions imposed on Speaker Anita Among. The sanctions, announced today, target officials and their spouses for alleged corruption and human rights violations.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, explained that the sanctions extend to the spouses of the affected officials. This directly impacts Magogo, who is married to Among. As a result, Magogo will be barred from traveling to the United States, one of the three host countries for the 2026 World Cup.
The implications of this ban are significant for Magogo, both personally and professionally. As the head of FUFA, he plays a crucial role in Uganda's football administration. The restriction means he will be unable to participate in the World Cup activities, whether in his capacity as a federation leader or as part of the Uganda Cranes delegation, should the national team qualify.
This development is a major setback for Magogo, who last year committed to ensuring that the Cranes qualify for the 2026 World Cup. His leadership at FUFA, which began in August 2013 following Lawrence Mulindwa's tenure, has been marked by significant efforts to boost Uganda's football standing on the international stage.
Adding to his challenges, Magogo lost his position on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last year, compounding the difficulties he faces in the international football arena.
The US sanctions are enacted under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47). According to this section, “Officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary of State has credible information have been involved, directly or indirectly, in significant corruption, including corruption related to the extraction of natural resources, or a gross violation of human rights shall be ineligible for entry into the United States.”
Unless the US Secretary of State decides to overturn these sanctions, Magogo's ban from the US will remain in place, effectively barring him from attending the world’s biggest football event in 2026.
This situation underscores the broader impacts of international sanctions, which often extend beyond the primary targets to affect their families and professional affiliations.
For Uganda's football community, the absence of their federation president at the 2026 World Cup would be a notable void, particularly given Magogo's commitment to the sport and his efforts to elevate Uganda's presence on the global stage.
