KAMPALA, Uganda — Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye briefly resigned as spokesperson of Sports Club Villa on Friday before the club reversed the decision hours later, citing an internal miscommunication linked to a controversial nomination fee in the club’s upcoming presidential elections.
The dramatic sequence began early Friday when Kasingye announced his resignation on social media, saying he felt disrespected after the club contradicted a statement he had issued about the nomination fee required for candidates seeking the club presidency.
Kasingye had earlier said aspirants would pay UGX 20 million to contest in the election. However, the club later released an official notice stating that the fee was UGX 100 million, non refundable. The sudden clarification triggered widespread debate among supporters and potential candidates, many of whom said the higher fee would discourage participation.
In his resignation message, Kasingye said the contradiction undermined his credibility as the club spokesperson.
“This is disrespectful,” he wrote, arguing that the situation weakened his ability to represent the club publicly.
But by evening, SC Villa announced that the matter had been resolved internally and that Kasingye would continue in his role.
“The earlier miscommunication has been resolved internally. AIGP (Rtd) Asan Kasingye remains the official spokesperson of Sports Club Villa and will continue serving alongside the executive members,” the club said in a statement posted on its official social media platforms.
The swift reversal sparked mixed reactions among fans online. Some expressed amusement at the dramatic turn of events while others criticized the club for poor internal communication.
One supporter likened the situation to a football match in which “Kasingye scored twice in the first half and then equalized with two own goals.” Another suggested the incident showed that Kasingye’s public profile had grown larger than the club’s communications structure.
Kasingye joined SC Villa in 2023 after retiring from the Uganda Police Force, where he served for years as the institution’s spokesperson. Known for his strong social media presence, he has attracted both praise and criticism from fans who say he sometimes focuses more on English Premier League club Arsenal than on SC Villa matters.
The episode comes at a tense moment for the club as it prepares for presidential elections scheduled for March 22, 2026, after an earlier postponement in November 2025.
Incumbent president Hajj Omar Mandela is seeking another term and faces several challengers including former club president Ben Misagga. The race has already drawn attention following reports of heated exchanges between rival camps during the nomination process.
The UGX 100 million nomination fee has emerged as a major flashpoint in the election, with critics saying it may limit competition and restrict access to club leadership positions.
Former police spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga has also been appointed to the club’s electoral committee, a move seen by some supporters as an effort to strengthen oversight during the voting process.
Founded in 1975, SC Villa remains one of Uganda’s most successful football clubs. Known as the Jogoos, the club has won 17 Uganda Premier League titles and nine Uganda Cup trophies, in addition to regional success in the CECAFA Club Championship.
Despite internal disputes, the club continues to play a central role in Uganda’s football culture, with passionate supporters across the country.
For now, Kasingye remains in his position, but the brief resignation has highlighted the tensions surrounding the club’s leadership contest as Villa heads toward what could be one of its most closely watched elections in years.
