Kampala — Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Masembe has been suspended.

The decision that left the Fufa executive divided was taken yesterday evening after a marathon meeting at Mengo. "We have decided to suspend Masembe until the matter he is accused of is well investigated by a select committee," Fufa Publicist Rogers Mulindwa said.

Just minutes after Uganda Cranes defeated Benin 2-1 at Namboole, Masembe declared on several radio stations that the national team had qualified for the Nations Cup/World Cup second phase.

So green was Masembe about the mathematics involved in the qualification that he even chastised some media houses for telling Ugandans the truth that the Cranes' campaign had come to an end.

Before Ugandans could come to terms with the CEO's lies, Masembe was implicated in another scam. The former Fifa referee was exposed in some secions of the press as having used his office to recommend Ugandans seeking visas to do odd jobs under the pretext of attending football related courses in the United Kingdom.

The revelation could not have come at a better time for the already heartbroken soccer fans, who had been baying for Masembe's blood and calling on Fufa boss Lawrence Mulindwa to sack him forthwith.

Expecting Masembe to be sacked, sports scribes turned up for yesterday's Fufa weekly press briefing. The press conference was though pushed to evening hours as the Fufa executive discussed Masembe's fate. Even then, an announcement wasn't made, prompting journalists to walk out on Mulindwa (Rogers) who kept dodging questions concerning the Maembe saga.

But around 8pm, the decision to suspend Masembe, who was also stripped of the Fifa referees ' badge after the 1998 Nations Cup, was finally communicated. However Daily Monitor has learnt that the decision infuriated some members, who wanted Masembe sacked. Others never wanted Masembe to be punished at all.

Fufa Technical Director Edgar Watson will take over the CEO's position as a caretaker as the committee of Col Bell Tushabe, Patrick Ogwal, Abdul Adam, Chris Kalibbala and Mike Letti continue to investigate Masembe's dealings.

"We have also decided to give Masembe half pay of his monthly salary until the investigations are finalised. And if we find out that he is innocent we shall pay him all the money. He will also be cleared to return to office," Mulindwa disclosed. Masembe officiated the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations final.