NEC FC forward Cromwell Rwothomio has launched a scathing attack on his club, accusing officials of unfair treatment, intimidation, and deliberately blocking his career.
Rwothomio traces the fallout to a league match against Calvary on November 25, where he was taken off before the start of the second half at Lugogo, with Innocent Media coming on in his place.
The striker says he was substituted without any prior communication from the technical bench while the team was still in the dressing room, a moment he describes as disrespectful.
“I wasn’t informed in the dressing room. I only found out on the pitch through a teammate that I had been taken off,” he said, adding that he expected feedback from the coach instead of what he calls a public dismissal.
The situation escalated the following day when he reported for training but was ordered not to participate and summoned to the coach’s office.
There, head coach Badru Kaddu informed him of an impending suspension for allegedly storming straight to the dressing room after being substituted—an accusation he strongly denies.
Rwothomio claims the coach initially wanted him suspended indefinitely, a decision later revised by club management to a two-week ban pending investigations.
He insists there is video evidence clearing him of wrongdoing, including claims that he threw away his jersey.
Despite serving the two-week suspension, the forward says he was blocked from resuming training and instead referred to the club’s disciplinary committee.
According to him, efforts to resolve the dispute internally hit a dead end, with top officials allegedly unwilling or unable to mediate between him and the coach.
The striker further alleges a breakdown in relations, claiming the coach publicly stated there was no problem while privately sidelining him.
“We couldn’t even greet each other, just passing by each other with no word,” he said, pointing to what he describes as a toxic working environment.
His troubles deepened when he attempted to secure a move away from the club during the mid-season window.
Rwothomio claims that when he presented an offer from another team, NEC instead reported him to FUFA for going absent without official leave, despite maintaining he had informed club officials and formally requested a loan move.
“AWOL? I had even informed the CEO when I vacated the club house after being told to clear room for other players. I then returned to Paidha,” he said.
The matter is now before the FUFA Players’ Status Committee, with a ruling still pending.
Rwothomio also accuses sections of the club leadership of targeting specific players, alleging that he and some teammates were labelled “stubborn and big-headed” and threatened with repercussions. He further claims that one official suggested players from the West Nile region were “too many” at the club.
The forward, who played a key role in NEC’s recent success—including a Uganda Cup final appearance, a 72-point league campaign, and a historic goal in the CAF Confederation Cup—says the treatment has left him disillusioned.
“They even took away my licence to play this season, yet they don’t want to release me,” he added.
He also revealed that potential transfers to clubs in Ethiopia and Rwanda collapsed after NEC set what he describes as unrealistic transfer fees.
“NEC demanded $50,000 from the Ethiopian team. There was also interest from Rwanda Police after we played them in a friendly, but the club asked for UGX 200 million and the deal fell through. I remained professional throughout and never complained,” he said.
Now, the striker says he is not being paid and has effectively been frozen out of football.
“I have no other job. Football is my work, but I’m being stopped from working,” he said. “And I’m being threatened—is it because some people have a lot of money or strong political connections?”
NEC FC CEO Jonathan Okorotum, when contacted, said the player “absconded from duty,” adding that “FUFA has not responded to us yet.”
When asked further about the suspension and other allegations, he said the club is “not ready to share information with the public at the moment,” describing the matter as “in-house.”
A source familiar with the situation claims the club had paid Rwothomio UGX 35 million as a sign-on fee, and later he reportedly took UGX 20 million as a salary advance loan!
For him to leave the club, it is said that club president Engineer Brian Buhanda requested the player refund UGX 15 million, citing that he had played only half a season under a newly renewed three-year contract.
This is not the first time Rwothomio has fallen out with a club, with previous reports of disputes during his time at Vipers and URA.
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