FOOTBALL Tricked and Trapped: The story of Sepuya and the missing millions

What started as a promising partnership between the two has transposed into a 'scam scandal', with back and forth accusations after Sepuya working with a person in FUFA, allegedly duped up to UGX 102.8 million from Musoke.

The city of Liverpool is synonymous with one of the most iconic football anthems of all time, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'

But for an England-based football agent, who for purposes of this story shall be called Musoke, those words have taken on a new, more painful meaning after being allegedly duped by a Ugandan football agent and former Cranes striker Eugene Sepuya.

What started as a promising partnership between the two has transposed into a 'scam scandal', with back and forth accusations after Sepuya working with a person in FUFA, allegedly duped up to UGX 102.8 million from Musoke.

The money was taken to help process transfers for Ugandan prospects, including Gavin Kizito, Travis Mutyaba, Ismail Mugulusi, Kenneth Ssemakula and Derrick Kakooza.

The funds were to be used for various medical tests, including 'blood tests', while on other occasions, it was purported to help foot travel expenses for national team matches.

It's a cautionary tale of the darker side of football business and a reminder that even in the world of sports, sometimes you have to walk alone.

It all started when Musoke approached Sepuya with a proposal to secure a deal for Ugandan striker Derrick Kakooza.

Kakooza had been subject to growing interest in Europe, with giants like AC Milan and Liverpool reportedly eyeing the young striker, especially following his top performances for the Uganda Hippos at the 2021 AFCON.

Musoke had been following Kakooza's performance in the Ugandan league and believed he had the potential to play in Europe, and through his contacts, he was introduced to Sepuya.

Over the next few weeks, the two agents worked closely together to finalize the deal and start a never-ending stream of phoney schemes.

While Kakooza's move to Latvian club Valmiera FC did not have any shady business, as Musoke was in contact with his agent Godfrey Kayemba 'Solo' – MP Bukomansimbi South – the player's name was used as part of the schemes.

According to Musoke, Sepuya collected sums of money to secure travel documents for Kakooza to travel for Uganda Cranes matches under the pretence that FUFA could not facilitate his travel back to Uganda.

"I was asked for money for Kakooza to be able to travel back for Uganda Cranes matches," he disclosed to Pulse Sports.

"At one time, he told me that he had begged, imagine begging, the federation boss, (Moses) Magogo and coach Micho (Milutin Sredojevic) to have the boy on the team, and that he would foot the bill of his travel to Uganda and back."

"Sepuya asked me to give him the money to enable Kakooza to travel to Greece and then connect to Uganda for the engagement, saying that this is an investment that is needed."

According to money transfer slips seen by this writer, up to 3,300 pounds were paid through Kakooza's account and forwarded to Sepuya between September 20 to September 29, 2022.

Around that time, Kakooza travelled to Uganda and played for almost half an hour in an international friendly against Tanzania. However, it is alleged the player did not benefit from that money either.

"When Kakooza received that money to give to Sepuya, he asked me why I keep sending money through him to Sepuya," Musoke narrates.

"I told him it was to help process travel back to Uganda for the national team. The boy told me to stop sending money to anyone because FUFA meets expenses."

The case of Gavin Kizito

Kizito was also among the players who were introduced to Musoke to be represented under Sepuya's agency and had caught the eye at the AFCON U20, plus his time with the Uganda Cranes.

Musoke was told that Sepuya had a club interested in the player in Greece, but the player needed to secure a Schengen visa.

That request also included players like Mutyaba, Mugulusi and Kenneth Ssemakula, for whom he transferred UGX 2.9 million to a Ugandan account around October 2022.

There was also a prior transfer of UGX 1.156 million to Uganda in May 2022 for various travel documents, including International Police clearance.

Evidence of acquiring these letters was later presented in September 2022 and proceeded with a request to process visas.

However, in a surprise turn of events, Gavin never stepped foot in Greece but instead moved to top-flight Egyptian side Al Ittihad FC.

"I thought we had Kizito travel to Europe for a move, but I was surprised when I checked, and he had moved to Egypt and under a different agency," he explained.

"I asked Sepuya how we failed on the move, and he said he had been out-dealt by some underhand tactics from people within FUFA."

"Don't get me wrong, I have nothing on the player, and I believe Egypt is a good platform for him where he can flourish and later move to Europe, but I had been sold a different cow."

Emails seen by this website show that Sepuya went as far as writing several requests to FUFA about how the transfer was sanctioned, also threatening to take legal action against 'such unworthy behaviour'.

Interestingly, there were unexplained withdraws of up to 4200 pounds (UGX 19.6 million) made under the names of Kizito and Ssemakula but received in Greece.

Travis Mutyaba needs school fees

Mutyaba's name has not only been used as a request for investment over several potential transfers, but intriguingly, he was the recipient of funds to help facilitate his education in Uganda.

"For Travis, Sepuya has requested me several times to help pay his school fees, telling me that his parents cannot meet his dues, yet we need to keep him in school."

"I have been sending money to him for the boy's fees until recently after I did more digging and found out that he was supported under a scholarship."

Mugulusi biggest cash cow

"For the case of Mugulusi, if I had access to his parents, I would call them and let them know what exactly their son is going through and how he might end up losing his gift," Musoke states.

"Sepuya has used the boy for his benefit, and it hurts because he has such a gift, but he keeps on throwing him from one end to the other."

Musoke narrates that he was first introduced to Mugulusi shortly after his surgery in Greece, but he has been used as a giant pony in the scheme.

For example, on several occasions, the midfielder was used to solicit money for dubious claims, including having blood tests in Kenya and Egypt.

His move to the Greek club is a worrying situation regarding the players' future, with Musoke revealing that he is on a short-term deal through which he is not paid and has no expenses covered under it.

"I don't know the number of times I have been asked to pay for blood tests," he wonders. "I have never heard of so many blood tests in football."

"I was told that should the club like him and sign him, then they will pay up to USD 60,000, but when I asked around, the terms were completely different and worrying from the player's perspective."

"We want to help these players, but we cannot have them make moves to Europe if we do business this way, and we might see some of them become wasted," he continued.

Spreading the net elsewhere

Sepuya's scheme has not been limited to Ugandan players. Still, he has also been able to fleece funds for players from different parts of Africa, including a South Sudanese defender identified as John Kol.

Zambian player Ricky Banda was also one whose transfer was financed heavily but did not materialize, with Sepuya further alleging that he had an office in Zambia.

This plot is all sabotage – Sepuya

Sepuya on his part has called these revelations totally unfounded and a plot to sabotage and spoil his name, from cannivals who want to prey on the potential and marketability of Ugandan young talent.

“This guy has made these allegations to sabotage my name, and spoil business for me. I do not deal in fraud and forgery. All my deals are straight forward,” Sepuya told Pulse Sport.

“We have never dealt in any wrong transfers. My team is very straight, and as a company it is not the way we do business honestly.”

“If his claims are founded and true, then he knows the avenues through which he can seek compensation for it, let him seek redress through the right channels.”

“I work for the betterment of my country men, to give a platform to young Ugandan players in Europe, because I am the only Ugandan agent in Europe, and I feel it is my obligation to support them.”

“I have all the receipts for our transactions, and the money he sent was my commission for a South Sudanese player called Kol, who we helped transfer to Latvia.”

"The other money was my commission for my involvement in the transfer of Kol to Europe. For Kakooza's case, I received money but that was to help with the player's welfare as he was settling into life in Latvia."

However, when contacted, Kol who now plays for Kenyan side Mathare United said he didnot secure any move to Europe, and that failure to secure travel documents ruined any potential deals, but stopped working with Sepuya the moment the move fell through. 

“The claims about Mugulusi are all wrong, because he has just returned from injury and there is no way I could try and do business for him.”

“For Mutyaba (Travis), I have no claim over him because the player is owned by SC Villa, and the club must first sanction any move before I can work on anything,” he added.

Sepuya adds that the fact that several individuals have now received information of pending deals for two of his prospects, in the June window, it has fueled a drive to spoil any transfers.

“Some of these players have ripe moves waiting to happen, and individuals have caught wind of that, so they are trying as much to try and sabotage those moves,” he explained.