The Ankole Cup football match between Ntungamo and Bushenyi districts ended in controversy on Sunday evening after Bushenyi secured a narrow 1–0 victory at Kyamate Playground in Ntungamo Municipality.
The highly contested fixture, which attracted hundreds of fans from both districts, descended into chaos after the final whistle when angry Ntungamo supporters stormed the pitch, accusing referee Fahadi Sekayiba of biased officiating. Police were forced to intervene, firing warning shots and forming a protective shield around the referee before escorting him to safety.
Earlier in the day, Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality Member of Parliament Hajji Iddi Basajjabalaba called for calm and sportsmanship before kick-off, urging fans to embrace unity beyond competition.
“We must maintain the status of being united as one family. We don’t have to attach a lot of feelings in this game because the mechanism is unity. The rest is sticking to one objective of this tournament rather than creating differences,” Basajjabalaba said.
The match was tightly contested in the first half, with both sides creating chances but failing to break the deadlock, heading into halftime at 0–0.
Bushenyi eventually broke the deadlock in the second half at 6:05 p.m., sparking celebrations from visiting fans while leaving the home supporters disappointed.
Tensions escalated after the final whistle as sections of Ntungamo supporters expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, accusing the referee of making decisions that influenced the outcome.
Despite the unrest, Ntungamo District team captain Paul Mucureezi described the match as a competitive encounter, saying the team would reflect and focus on upcoming fixtures.
“It was a good game and the fans enjoyed the football despite the incidents that followed. As a team, we shall sit down, address the mistakes, and focus on our next match against Sheema District on Sunday,” Mucureezi said.
Ntungamo leaders later sought to calm tensions, emphasizing unity and learning from the incident. Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga called for continued support to the team.
“We shall continue to train and support our players so that they build strength and improve performance in the next matches,” Karuhanga said.
Ntungamo District LC5 Chairperson Samuel Muchunguzi acknowledged concerns over officiating but urged restraint.
“It was a good match overall, although the officiation was not at the standard expected compared to other games. However, it remains just a game,” he said.
The District Woman Representative, Viola Buroko Namanya, praised leaders for supporting the tournament, saying it promotes unity and development.
“I commend all the MPs in Ntungamo for this support and unity. This shows unity. And we are ready to work. Now that the budget is out and all MPs are here already on ground. Football is a uniting factor but we continue to unite and get our people out of poverty,” she said.