Uganda Cranes and Sports Club Villa defender Gavin Kizito Mugweri has heaped praise on senior players of the national team for helping him acclimatize in the team camp. 

Kizito, 21, is capped once on the senior national team having risen through the ranks from the U-17, U-20 and U-23 set ups before head coach Milutin Micho’s latest call up.

He was quick to praise senior players on the Uganda Cranes for his quick adaptation.

“First of all, I am humbled for the summon once again. I want to thank coach Micho and the rest of the technical team,” he said.

“As a person, I am ready to put up the best performance and cement a permanent position on the senior team. I thank the senior players on the team. They have been influential to me in a way or another” he added.

Kizito has been captain for the Uganda U-20 team and won silver at the 2021 U-20 Afcon championships hosted in Mauritania.

He is part of the team currently camped at Cranes Paradise Hotel in Kisaasi, Kampala preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers against Kenya (away) and Mali at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

The final team will be named Wednesday before departure to Ethiopia for warm up games.

The final batch of players who will represent the country at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 arrived in Kigali, Rwanda ahead of the tournament that tips off on Tuesday.

Ishmail Wainright, Arthur Kaluma, and John Deng Geu touched down in Kigali on Monday evening and joined the team in the bubble and now the team is complete.

The Silverbacks will play their first game of the tournament on Wednesday against Senegal then Cameroon and South Sudan in that order.

The top team in the group will advance directly to the quarterfinals while the second and third-placed teams will cross with the third and second-placed team from Group C for a playoff to the quarterfinals.

Uganda thus needs at least one win to stand a chance of playing in the quarterfinals.

Uganda’s Roster

• Backcourt: Jimmy Enabu (Captain), Tonny Drileba, Kieran Zziwa, Adam Seiko, Eric Rwahwire, Ben Komakech
• Frontcourt: Ismail Wainright, John Deng Geu, Arthur Kaluma, Robinson Opong, James Okello, Titus Lual

Uganda’s Group Fixtures (EAT)

• Wednesday, 25th August: Senegal vs. Uganda – 7:00pm
• Friday, 27th August: Uganda vs. Cameroon – 1:00pm
• Sunday, 29th August: South Sudan vs. Uganda – 7:00pm

URA Football Club has announced the re-signing of James Alitho on a two-year deal.

The lanky goalkeeper returns to the tax collectors after a short stint in the Zambian Premier League with Zanaco Football Club.

“I’ve grown to love the proverb that “East or west, home is best”, home is indeed best because I feel there is no other place I would rather be,” Alitho said as quoted by club media.

“It is a pleasure for me to return to this special club that I happen to love so much,” he added.

He will compete for the starting place in goal with Nafian Alionzi who has been the custodian since his departure.

Billy Kiggundu, the goalkeeping coach says Alitho brings the much-needed experience to the side.

”Of course Alitho comes with a lot of experience to our young team and will help us in the department especially for the fact that we struggled with injuries last season.”

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Football Club striker Steven Desse Mukwala was named as the best fans’ player of the season, 2020-2021.

Mukwala walked away with Shs. 10,000,000 courtesy of the telecommunications giants for the milestone.

Currently training with the Uganda Cranes squad in camp (at Cranes Paradise Hotel, Kisaasi) preparing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, Mukwala lauded his fans for selecting him. 

“I am humbled to win the MTN fans’ award of the year. I would like to thank my club, URA Football Club, technical staff and teammates. In a special way, I thank the fans who showered me with the love. I am indeed honored” he told MTN Sports.

Mukwala was represented at the events by URA FC CEO Henry Mayeku and club communications director Patrick Ochieng.

Mukwala was URA’s top scorer with 14 goals as the tax collectors finished first runners up in the league behind champions Express.

Unfortunately the league was abruptly halted because of the Coronavirus pandemic second wave that has rocked several countries across the world.

He was two goals shy of the league top scorer, Yunus Sentamu (Vipers) and a goal behind Express’ Eric Kenzo Kambale.

MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer Somdev Sen reiterated MTN Uganda’s commitment to continue supporting sport at the event.

“MTN has always been a supporter of sports. We strongly believe that Uganda has a lot of potential in sports,” he said.

Express Football Club head coach Wasswa Bbosa was named the fans’ coach of the season.

Bbosa helped Express to the league crown, their 7th overall in the club’s history. 

“I would like to thank MTN Uganda for such awards. I also want to thank my team Express FC, the management, players and fans for voting me as best coach,” Bbosa who also earned Shs. 10,000,000 said.

Express fans’ brigade tagged as “Mukwano gw’abangi” claimed the best fans’ club gong in the season and earned Shs 30,000,000.

Richard Esingu earned Shs. 1,500,000 as the best fan of the season while David Luyima and Godfrey Male were first and second runners up to pocket 1,000,000 and 500,000 respectively.

Xavier Masereka was crowned staff of the year and earned Shs. 1,000,000.

Former Uganda Cranes head coach Moses Basena officially started his assistant coach duties for the Uganda Cranes team on Sunday, 22nd August 2021.

This followed his arrival at the national team camp at Paradise Hotel, Kisaasi on Saturday.

Basena took part in the Sunday morning demonstration drills as well as the afternoon recovery session at Kabira Country Hotel, Bukoto.

The tactician was named assistant to Serbian Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic after Charles Livingstone Mbabazi turned down the job (for unclear reasons).

This is the second time that Basena is working with Micho as part of the backroom staff alongside French man Franck Plaine (Fitness and performance director), Addis Worku (video analyst) and Geofrey Massa (team manager).

Talking up his return to the national team fold, Basena said; “I am happy to be back and serve the country. The first week of training has been good and it has helped the players play catch up fitness-wise.”

He added; “Now, we are entering the most important week as we prepare for the build up matches and the upcoming FIFA World Cup Cup qualification matches against Kenya (away) and Mali (home).”

The team training resumes on Monday after the Federation cancelled out the earlier planned training camp in Jordan where they had lined up two international warm up games against Syria.

FUFA has however planned an international build up match against Ethiopia on Sunday, 29th August 2021 at the Bahir Dar Stadium before facing Kenya on 2nd September 2021 in Nairobi.

Players in Camp:

Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Express),Charles Lukwago (KCCA), Simon Tamale (Soltilo Bright Stars), Nafian Alionzi (URA)

Defenders: Murushid Juuko (Express), Enock Walusimbi (Express), Arthur Kiggundu (Express),Denis Iguma (KCCA), Innocent Wafula (Mbarara City), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Eric Ssenjobe (Police), Azizi Kayondo (Vipers), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers), Garvin Kizito Mugweri (SC Villa), Kenneth Ssemakula (SC Villa), Hassan Muhamood (Police)

Midfielders: Muzamiru Mutyaba (Express), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA), Nicholas Kasozi (Kyetume), Abubakar Gift Ali (KCCA)

Forwards: Yunus Sentamu (Vipers), Martin Kizza (Express), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Unattached), Patrick Henry Kaddu (RS Berkene), Jude Ssemugabi (Mbarara City), Richard Basangwa (Vipers), Steven Dese Mukwala (URA FC)

Uganda Cranes Coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic wants the national team to emulate 2020 Tokyo Olympics medalists when they face Kenya and Rwanda in World Cup qualifiers.

The Cranes face the Harambee Stars and Amavubi between September 2 and 7 in a bid to qualify for the first ever World Cup finals due in Qatar next year.

Peruth Chemutai, Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo won Uganda medals in Tokyo – helping the country make history as the best performance she has displayed in history.

“For now, I ask the boys to believe in themselves when we start the world cup campaign,” Micho told MTN Sports in an interview. “The Tokyo Olympics medal winners can be our be our main inspiration,” he added.

Uganda suffered heartbreaks at the hands of Kenya (2012 Afcon qualifiers) and Rwanda (2004 Afcon qualifiers).

In the 2019 Afcon qualifiers, Uganda was held by Tanzania at Namboole before suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat away.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei claimed victory in the Men’s 2 Miles race at the Eugene meeting of the Diamond League on Saturday.

In the battle of Olympic gold medalists, 5000m winner Cheptegei defeated Selemon Barega (the 10000m champ), running a world-leading time of 8:09.55 to beat the Ethiopian who came home in 8:09.82.

“It feels so good to come back and run 2-mile in Oregon. It really means a lot to me to win here in Oregon and it will always be in my heart,” Cheptegei said in the aftermath of the race.

Paul Chelimo of the USA was timed in 8:09.83 for third place to win the mini-battle of bronze medalists as Jacob Kiplimo settled for fourth in 8:10.16, a personal best for the 20-year-old.

How other Ugandans fared

In the Women’s 3000m steeplechase, Peruth Chemutai finished seventh in 9:10.87. Two of the six athletes ahead of her ran personal best times while three ran their season-best. Norah Jeruto who didn’t make the powerful Kenyan Olympics team raced away to a world-leading time of 8:53.65 and was followed by Courtney Frerichs who ran an American record and personal best of 8:57.77. Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng, a bronze medalist in Tokyo, finished in 9:00.05 for third place.

Halima Nakaayi came sixth in the Women’s 800m recording a time of 1:58.78. American teenage sensation Athing Mu was at her all-time best, lowering her own national record to 1:55.04 in a race she won by well over two seconds as countrymate Kate Grace (1:57.60) edged Jamaica’s Natoya Goule (1:57.71) for second.

Winnie Nanyondo came fourth in the Women’s 1500m in 4:00.72. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya ran by herself for a huge victory in a meet record 3:53.23 to win by over six seconds. Australia’s Linden Hall (3:59.73) beat American Josette Norris (4:00.07) for second place.

Moses Magogo has been re-elected as the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President for the next four years.

Magogo was given the mandate by acclamation during the 97th Fufa Ordinary General Assembly held at Wash and Wills Hotel in Mbale having run unopposed following the vetting process done in June.

In his acceptance speech, Magogo was grateful for the opportunity to serve again and said the strategic plan for the next four years will be dubbed ‘Consolidate and Take Off’.

“Thank you yet again for another opportunity. It is an emotional moment knowing how far we have come,” he said as quoted by the federation media.

“The next four years will definitely be about consolidating what we have achieved so far and igniting the next gear. The leadership at FUFA is driven by the desire to deliver football to all stakeholders irrespective of any prevailing situations

“Our strategic plan for the next four years dubbed ‘Consolidate and Take Off’ will see FUFA grow to the highest levels further in the Region and on the African Continent,” he added.

At the assembly, a new executive was voted but it has largely the same faces save for Dan Obote, Apollo Ahimbisibwe, and Frank Ankuzire.

Justus Mugisha (FUFA First Vice President), Darius Mugoye (FUFA Second Vice President), and Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi (FUFA Third Vice President) were maintained.

Ronnie Kalema, Issa Magoola, Rasul Ibrahim Ariga, Richard Ochom, Agnes Mugena, Sam Mpiima, Rogers Mulindwa, and Rogers Byamukama are the other members of the executive who returned.

Uganda’s Tokyo Olympics medalists Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai, and Jacob Kiplimo are some of the stars to watch at the Eugene meeting of the 2021 Diamond League on Saturday, 21st August.

Cheptegei, a gold medalist at the Olympics, and Kiplimo a bronze medal winner will compete in the Men’s 2 Miles race that has also attracted other Olympic medalists as 10000m champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia and Paul Chelimo of the USA.

Meanwhile, golden girl Peruth Chemutai will compete against world number one and Olympic bronze medalist Hyvin Kiyeng of Kenya as well as Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs of the USA in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase.

In the Women’s 800m, World Champion Halima Nakaayi will battle Tokyo Olympics champion Athing Mu of the USA and silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain as well as bronze medalist Raevyn Rodgers of the USA.

In the Women’s 1500m, Winnie Nanyondo will be up against two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya who is also the meeting record holder, and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Laura Muir of Great Britain.

Race Time (EAT)

• 3000m Steeplechase (Women) – 11:03pm
• 800m (Women) – 11:48pm
• 2 Miles (Men) – 11:56pm
• 1500m (Women) – 12:12am (Sunday, August 22)

KCCA Football Club has signed Geoffrey Wasswa on a two-year deal.

The central defender joins the Lugogo-based side from rivals SC Villa with whom he played during the second half of the just concluded 2020-21 season.

OFFICIAL!

GEOFFREY WASSWA is a 🟡💛#WelcomeWasswa pic.twitter.com/9UPXepSuvr

— KCCA FC (@KCCAFC) August 20, 2021

Wasswa who played for Vipers SC as a youngster becomes the 6th signing for KCCA FC during this transfer window.

He joins  Brian Majwega, Brian Kayanja, Emmanuel Wasswa, Yasser Mugerwa, and Usama Arafati.

Wasswa won two Uganda Premier League titles with Vipers (2018 and 2020) and the Uganda Cup in 2017 after graduating from Vipers Junior Team.