Fabrice Shema Ngoga, president of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), has resigned from his position effective immediately. In a letter dated 29 September 2026, Shema stated that his decision was prompted by an integrity issue related to his person. He emphasized that stepping down was the most responsible course of action to protect public confidence in the federation and avoid distractions while the matter is being dealt with through the appropriate procedures.
Shema's resignation follows a court case in Rwanda that raised questions about his future as FERWAFA president. The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court approved a plea agreement involving Shema over allegations related to the issuance of two bounced cheques and obtaining another person's property through fraudulent means. As a result, Shema received a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year and was fined Rwf3 million. The legal proceedings stemmed from Shema's private business activities, not from his role at FERWAFA.
Shema was elected FERWAFA president on 30 August 2025, receiving 51 of the 53 votes cast at the federation's Annual Ordinary General Assembly in Kigali. He replaced Alphonse Munyantwali and was confirmed by FIFA, which described him as the newly elected president in September 2025. Before taking charge of FERWAFA, Shema had been president of Rwandan Premier League club AS Kigali since 2019.
During his tenure, Shema had met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Rabat to discuss Rwanda's football development agenda and cooperation between FIFA and FERWAFA. His election was accompanied by ambitions to strengthen football development in Rwanda, including grassroots development and the competitiveness of the country's domestic game.
Shema's resignation leaves FERWAFA facing another leadership transition less than 14 months into the executive committee's four-year mandate. In his resignation letter, Shema thanked the General Assembly, Executive Committee, FERWAFA staff, partners, supporters, fans, the Amavubi national team, and other stakeholders for their support during his tenure.
The federation has yet to publicly announce who will take over the presidency on an interim basis or when a new election will be held. As of its latest publicly available organisational information, FERWAFA lists Shema as president, while FIFA and CAF also previously listed him in the role. His resignation marks a significant change at the top of Rwandan football, coming after a turbulent period.
Shema concluded by saying it had been an honour to serve Rwandan football and pledged to support the handover of responsibilities to ensure continuity in the federation's work. He stressed that his resignation should not be interpreted beyond the facts established through the relevant procedures and reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of accountability, transparency, and good governance in Rwandan football.
Key points
- Fabrice Shema resigns as FERWAFA president due to integrity concerns
- Shema's resignation follows a court case over allegations related to his private business activities
- FERWAFA faces a leadership transition with an unclear interim president and election timeline
