Rwandan Prosecutors Want FA Boss Remanded for 30-Da Over $600,000 Bounced Cheques

What the report says

Rwandan prosecutors have asked a Kigali court to hold FERWAFA president Fabrice Shema in custody for 30 days while they continue investigating allegations of fraud and the issuing of two bounced cheques totaling $600,000, according to Nile Post. The hearing took place on Wednesday, August 26, before the Nyarugenge Primary Court in Kigali.

The case stems from a commercial dispute involving Africa Medical Supplier, a company linked to Shema, and ABZL International General Trading LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates. Prosecutors said the dispute followed January 2024 agreements worth about €1.9 million, and that cheques tied to the deal were later presented on an I&M Bank account that reportedly had only a little over $1,000 available. They argued that the cheques bore Shema’s signature and that insufficient funds made the documents the basis for a separate criminal offence under Rwandan law.

Shema rejected the allegations and told the court he had already made large payments toward the deal, while also saying a later transfer failed because of problems with the account details provided by ABZL. He said he remained willing to pay what was still owed and sought bail, offering property as security and arguing that he was not a flight risk.

The court did not rule immediately and set September 2, 2026, for its decision. Based on the reporting, the matter appears tied to Shema’s private business dealings rather than his role leading Rwanda’s football federation.