Franco Mugabe
If there is one person who has undiminishing affection, it is Franco Mugabe, best known in football circles as the former SC Villa supremo.
Wherever there is Capo, as he is best known by close pal, there is always a charm. That was the exact case last Friday, November 20 when hundreds of Mugabe’s family and friends descended to his Makindye, Luwafu for the celebration of life for his late son Frederick Mugabe and his son-in-law, Simon Peter Ssekitoleko.
Frederick died on September 11, 2024, in London and was buried there. Meanwhile, Ssekitoleko was husband to Mugabe’s daughter Vanessa Mugabe and son to former permanent secretary of the ministry of Education and Sports, Francis Xavier Lubanga.
It was a grand event that was attended by several high-profile people, and it caused heavy traffic jam along Makindye-Luwafu road. Some of the notable guests included Kampala archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere, Buganda katikkiro Peter Charles Mayiga, Rwanda ambassador to Uganda Col Joseph Rutabana, Prince David Wasajja, former katikkiro Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, Kabaka advisor Apollo Makubuya, several sports figures as well as a high-level delegation from Rwanda, among others.
Mourners eulogised the deceased as loving and young people who were hard-working and had just started life before they were called to the Lord. However, the majority praised Mugabe’s humility, straightness, generosity, and hard work, which he passed on to his family.
MUGABE JOINS SC VILLA EXCOM
What I noted at the event is that Mugabe is like a people magnet. In his Villa days, Mugabe used to be surrounded by people wherever he went and on last week’s occasion, it was evident business came to a standstill in Makindye.
It was as though the old Mugabe, the charmer, had reemerged. But he has never gone anywhere. Perhaps the only change is his new calm demeanour and for the young generation who missed the old Mugabe, it is perhaps prudent to give you a reminder, especially during his SC Villa days when he was the club’s chairman for more than a decade.
Mugabe was elected to the SC Villa executive committee in November, 1981. He was reserved and rarely talked but supported the club financially. Despite his heavy business schedule, he rarely missed SC Villa’s training sessions or watching club matches.
In the late 1980s, the club expanded its executive and Mugabe was elevated as one of the vice chairpersons along with Henry Balamaze Lwanga, Bob Kabuye, Fred Kawuma and Joe Muganzi.
Club boss Patrick Kawoowa was the face of SC Villa, and being a maverick and hands-on person, it was difficult for any other person outshine him. Behind the scenes, though, financiers like Mugabe pulled the strings.
In the early 1990s, Kawooya’s business empire started crumbling and his health was deteriorating; this forced him to turn to Mugabe and other club top bosses to run the show.
PASSION AND LEGACY
In 1993, Kawooya was in and out of the hospital and matters were not helped by the fact that the club’s performance and dominance had started to wane. It became apparent that the club needed a fresh leader and when Caf fines SC Villa $90,000 for failing to honour a continental game against ASEC Mimosa, coupled with their failure to defend the 1993 league, the majority of fans identified Mugabe as the man to take the hot seat.
In December 1993, the club elected Mugabe unopposed. Mugabe led a smooth and peaceful leadership at Villa, and his strongest point was his humility, something that endeared him to the club’s faithful, who started enjoying the sense of belonging.
Under Mugabe, the club regained its glory and won a plethora of titles. Under Mugabe, the club registered 8 league titles, three Uganda Cup and two Cecafa Cup titles.
In 2003, the club held elections and Mugabe was handed a fourth term. His popularity and trust the club faithful had in him were also due to positive facts and figures.
In 2006, Mugabe wanted to retire, but the club asked him to stay on but in July, 2010, Mugabe voluntarily handed the instruments of power to Fred Muwema.
From then on, he took a back seat but remains a club loyalist and is currently a member of the club’s top organ, the board of trustees. In a nutshell, Mugabe’s approach to issues defines his legacy.
bzziwa@observer.ug
Source: The Observer
Share this content: