Kalisa Adolphe accused of embezzling $21,000 meant for Amavubi

By The Inspirer.

Kalisa Adolphe, widely known as Camarade, appeared before the Gasabo Primary Court on Thursday to face charges of embezzling more than $21,000 from funds allocated to Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi.

The case began with objections from his lawyer, who argued that the Gasabo court had no jurisdiction since FERWAFA headquarters are located in Remera, which falls under Kicukiro court. Prosecutors countered that Kalisa resides in Kimironko, within Gasabo’s jurisdiction, and that the alleged offenses were not limited to FERWAFA’s offices.

The prosecution alleges that in 2024, during Amavubi’s trip to Nigeria, FERWAFA disbursed over $43,000 to cover accommodation and expenses. Kalisa reportedly submitted inflated invoices, first claiming hotel costs of $40,000, then later acknowledging only $26,000 had been paid. The missing balance of $21,381 remains unaccounted for.

Similar irregularities were noted in 2025, when Kalisa allegedly overstated budget requests for Amavubi’s World Cup qualifying trips. For example, he claimed hotel expenses of $56,320 for an August trip, though the actual cost was $26,000.

Kalisa denied wrongdoing, saying he relied on a FIFA-licensed agent in Nigeria to handle payments, and offered to repay the funds if necessary. His lawyer requested bail, citing health reasons and presenting collateral worth more than four times the disputed amount.

The prosecution opposed his release, arguing he might interfere with the ongoing investigation. The court is expected to deliver its decision on September 29.