APR FC officially announced the signing of defender Abdoul Ishimwe, bringing the young centre-back to the army side after an 18-month spell at Mukura VS. Ishimwe is viewed as a potential replacement for Clément Niyigena, who is reportedly weighing a move away from the club amid growing interest from several top sides, including Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC. The defender’s move to APR comes after days of transfer disputes involving Mukura VS and his parent club Intare FC. Ishimwe was initially loaned to Mukura during the 2024/25 season, where he quickly established himself as one of the league’s standout defenders. His performances convinced the Huye-based club to sign him on a permanent deal in August 2025. However, the transfer later became contentious. Reports indicate that Ishimwe has not attended Mukura training sessions since Friday, January 30, after signing with APR FC. Mukura VS subsequently lodged a complaint with the local football governing body (FERWAFA), accusing the player of joining another club while still under contract, which was due to run until July 2027. According to sources, Mukura were expected to pay Rwf10 million to Intare FC as part of the transfer agreement. After delays in settling the first instalment, Intare FC opted to cancel the deal and instead completed Ishimwe’s transfer to APR FC. FERWAFA initially ruled that Intare FC had not breached any transfer regulations. Mukura VS have since appealed the decision, insisting that they had fulfilled their financial obligations as agreed.
