Shema Ngoga Fabrice, the current President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), was recently released from prison after serving a six-month sentence for embezzlement. His release was made possible by an agreement with the prosecution, which reduced his sentence to a suspended term and a fine of 3 million Rwandan francs. However, his future as the head of FERWAFA remains uncertain.
According to Rwandan law, a person convicted of a crime and sentenced to six months or more in prison is not eligible to hold leadership positions in sports organizations. However, lawyers and legal experts are divided on whether this applies to suspended sentences. Some argue that the law only applies to actual prison time, while others believe that a suspended sentence is equivalent to a prison sentence.
Marie-Thérèse Umurerwa, a Rwandan lawyer, stated that the law does not explicitly state that a person loses their position if sentenced to six months or less. She added that Shema's continued leadership of FERWAFA will depend on the organization's laws and regulations, as well as how they are interpreted. Umurerwa emphasized that the law should be carefully examined to determine Shema's eligibility to continue as FERWAFA president.
Shema was elected as the 16th President of FERWAFA in August, with 51 out of 53 votes. He was the only candidate and is set to lead the organization until 2029. Before his election as FERWAFA president, Shema served as the President of AS Kigali and was involved in business through his company, Africa Medical Supplier Plc.
In addition to his role at FERWAFA, Shema was also elected to the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) in February 2026, representing Rwanda. His agreement with the prosecution only relates to the embezzlement case and does not affect decisions made by other organizations or bodies related to the case.
A senior FERWAFA official stated that, according to their knowledge and the laws, Shema is still the President of FERWAFA. The official's statement suggests that the organization may choose to maintain its support for Shema, despite his recent conviction.
Shema is well-known in Rwandan football and recently expressed his well-wishes to the national team, Amavubi, on social media after his release from prison. The team is set to play against Liberia on Friday in a match that will determine their qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Shema Fabrice's future as FERWAFA president is uncertain after being sentenced to six months in prison.
- Rwandan law may not necessarily bar Shema from continuing as FERWAFA president due to a suspended sentence.
- A senior FERWAFA official stated that Shema is still the President of FERWAFA.
