Ugandan football coach Jackson Mayanja has won a salary dispute against Rwanda’s Sunrise FC, with FIFA ordering the club to settle outstanding payments or risk a player registration ban.
In a ruling communicated on Friday, October 23, FIFA ordered Sunrise FC to pay Mayanja RWF 2.6 million (approximately $1,760 or Shs7.4 million) in outstanding remuneration.
The amount attracts annual interest of five percent, calculated from December 6, 2025, until the club completes payment.
Mayanja was represented in the proceedings by Ugandan sports lawyer Timothy Kajja, who helped pursue the financial claim through FIFA’s dispute resolution process.
The decision gives Sunrise FC 45 days from notification to settle the debt, failure of which could trigger a ban on registering new players.
The restriction would apply to both domestic and international registrations for a maximum of three consecutive registration periods, subject to FIFA’s regulations.
According to the confirmation letter, both parties explicitly or tacitly accepted a proposal presented by the FIFA general secretariat.
That acceptance made the decision final and binding under FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
However, the registration ban would only be enforced following a request from Mayanja if Sunrise FC fails to meet its financial obligations.
Should the club remain in default after three consecutive registration periods, the matter could be referred to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee upon request.
Mayanja’s time at Sunrise FC
Mayanja joined Sunrise FC in November 2023, taking charge of a struggling side sitting at the bottom of the Rwanda Premier League.
The former Uganda Cranes midfielder replaced Hassan Muhire, who had been dismissed following a disappointing run of results.
His appointment marked another chapter in his coaching career in Rwanda, having previously worked alongside Mike Mutebi at AS Kigali.
Mayanja made an encouraging start, guiding Sunrise to a 1-0 victory over his former employers, AS Kigali, in his opening match.
By January 2024, Sunrise had climbed to ninth place in the 16-team league, having collected 20 points from 16 matches.
His early impact earned him praise from supporters, who reportedly nicknamed him “The Professor” following an improvement in the team’s performances.
In February 2024, Mayanja publicly denied reports that he had signed a new contract, although he expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress.
His spell eventually ended in June 2025, when Sunrise parted ways with him following a disappointing run of results.
That brought his tenure to approximately 19 months, spanning parts of two Rwanda Premier League seasons.
Financial dispute reaches FIFA
The financial dispute has now resulted in a binding FIFA decision in Mayanja’s favour, approximately 16 months after his departure.
The ruling establishes the amount owed but does not explain which contractual period the outstanding salary covers or why payment was withheld.
For Sunrise FC, the immediate challenge is settling the debt before the 45-day deadline to avoid potential restrictions on player recruitment.
FIFA also communicated the decision to the Rwandan Football Association and the Confederation of African Football.
The club’s response will determine whether the matter ends with payment or develops into further disciplinary proceedings.