Shema Ngoga Fabrice resigned as president of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) on September 29, 2026, just over a year after taking office, adding to a long history of unfinished terms at the federation.
Shema stepped down after being sentenced by a court to a six-month suspended prison term following his conviction for issuing a dishonoured cheque and fraudulently obtaining another person’s property.
His resignation has once again drawn attention to the history of FERWAFA’s leadership, where completing a full term has been relatively uncommon.
Over the past 50 years, from 1976 to 2026, only five presidents are recorded as having completed their terms in office.
They include Mudenge Canisius, who led FERWAFA from 1978 to 1982; Me Ngango Felicien, who served from 1982 to 1986; Lt. Gen. Caesar Kayizari, who was president from 1995 to 2005; and Maj. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, who led the federation from 2006 to 2011.
The history of FERWAFA leadership since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi shows a succession of presidents who left office before completing their mandates.
Ephraim Gasasira, who had previously been associated with Mukura VS&L, served as president during the transitional period, taking over from Mvuyekure Viateur before Lt. Gen. Caesar Kayizari assumed the position in 1995.
Kayizari spent 10 years at the helm, from 1995 to 2005. During his tenure, Rwanda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, marking the only time the Amavubi have reached the tournament to date.
He was succeeded by Maj. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura in 2006.
Kazura served for nearly five and a half years before resigning in September 2011, before completing his second term. He cited personal reasons for his resignation.
During his tenure, Rwanda hosted the African U-20 and U-17 competitions, while the Rwanda U-17 team qualified for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Isonga Football Academy was also established to develop young football talent.
Célestin Ntagungira, commonly known as Abega, took over after Kazura to complete the remainder of his term.
In January 2014, Vincent “De Gaulle” Nzamwita was elected president of FERWAFA.
Nzamwita served for nearly four years. During his tenure, Rwanda hosted the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with the Amavubi reaching the quarter-finals.
His administration also faced controversy, particularly surrounding player Daddy Birori, a case that contributed to Rwanda being eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition.
Nzamwita withdrew his candidacy ahead of the elections scheduled for late 2017, citing personal and family reasons.
Brig. Gen. Jean Damascène Sekamana was subsequently elected in March 2018.
Sekamana served for nearly three and a half years before resigning on April 14, 2021, ahead of the end of his four-year mandate. He said he was unable to balance his responsibilities at FERWAFA with his other personal commitments.
During his tenure, Rayon Sports made history by reaching the group stage and quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, a milestone that had not previously been achieved by a Rwandan club.
Olivier Mugabo Nizeyimana was elected in June 2021. Having previously been associated with Mukura VS&L, he was expected to bring stability and further development to Rwandan football.
However, Nizeyimana also left office before completing his term, resigning in April 2023 after nearly two years. Personal reasons and difficulties balancing his FERWAFA responsibilities with other commitments were among the reasons cited.
His tenure also saw debates over governance issues, including a contract reportedly worth nearly Rwf2 billion between FERWAFA and clothing manufacturer Masita. However, those issues should not be treated as the sole confirmed reason for his resignation.
During Nizeyimana’s presidency, Rwanda hosted the FIFA Congress in Kigali for the first time in March 2023.
Alphonse Munyantwali succeeded him in June 2023 and was appointed to lead FERWAFA on an interim basis while preparing for new elections.
Munyantwali remained in office for nearly two years before resigning in August 2025. Shema Ngoga Fabrice subsequently took over the presidency, but his tenure also ended with a resignation in September 2026.
The latest resignation means that, since FERWAFA began electing its presidents, only five leaders have completed their mandates, while 11 have left office before completing their terms.
The pattern has made leadership continuity one of the notable features of FERWAFA’s history over the past five decades.
