Drama erupted on Wednesday when former SC Villa president Ben Misagga and current president Omar Mandela nearly came to blows, escalating tensions ahead of the club’s upcoming elections.
The confrontation reportedly occurred as Misagga went to collect nomination forms to challenge Mandela for the presidency.
The two, who have had a strained relationship for years, became embroiled in a heated verbal exchange that almost turned physical.
Shortly after the incident, Misagga took to social media to criticize Mandela’s actions.
“Civility is not bought, Mandela's aggression towards me is a red flag, he's hiding something sinister, failing me to get forms is evil & backward, Kisenyi's cowardly acts – no place for bullies in leadership! Silence is not an option. You can't attack me, no Fun without Fans,” he posted.
This week, SC Villa released its electoral roadmap, with polls scheduled for March 22. Mandela has led the club since November 13, 2021, following an electoral process that ended a three-year interim committee under William Nkemba.
Under his leadership, Villa clinched their 17th Uganda Premier League title in the 2023/2024 season, ending a 20-year league drought.
At the club’s recent Annual General Meeting, Mandela, who has completed his first five-year term, expressed his willingness to seek another term despite criticism from some members.
Misagga, who served as president for four years until 2018, resigned shortly after FUFA suspended the club’s elections. In recent months, he has been an outspoken critic of Mandela’s administration, accusing it of undemocratic practices.
“The last few years, it has become painfully clear to me and to many other committed stakeholders that SC Villa is not being run as a democratic sports institution anymore,” Misagga said last month.
“It is being held hostage. A small group of individuals have locked the gates, thrown away the key and are calling all the shots for their own benefit. My goal with this suit was never to be adversarial for the sake of it.”
The feud between the two football heavyweights also comes amid controversy over the Shs100 million nomination fee required for all candidates vying for the presidency of Uganda’s most decorated football club.