Shema Ngoga Fabrice has stepped down as president of Rwanda’s football governing body, just weeks after being elected and days after his release following a criminal case involving $600,000 in dishonoured cheques.
Shema submitted his resignation to the FERWAFA General Assembly on September 29, saying he was acting to protect the integrity of the federation and preserve public confidence in its leadership.
He was elected on August 30, making his tenure less than a month long.
His resignation followed his release from custody on September 22 under a plea agreement with the prosecution. Shema had been arrested on August 10 after being accused of issuing dishonoured cheques and obtaining property through fraud.
Under the agreement, he admitted issuing a dishonoured cheque, an offence under Rwanda’s law governing negotiable instruments, and obtaining another person’s property through fraud under the country’s general criminal law.
The prosecution sought a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year and a 3 million Rwandan franc fine.
The case concerned two cheques worth $600,000 that Shema had issued in connection with a contract between his company, Africa Media Supplier, and ABZL International General Trading LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
Shema paid the company before his release, according to the information provided in the case.
In his resignation letter, Shema described his decision as one taken in good faith and linked to his personal conduct. He said stepping down immediately would help safeguard FERWAFA’s integrity, maintain confidence in the federation and allow its work to continue without disruption.
The resignation leaves FERWAFA facing a leadership transition only weeks after its latest election.
Shema’s departure also comes as Rwanda’s national football team is preparing for its next 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Mali in November.
The federation has not yet announced who will take over its leadership following his resignation.
