• FT: Bukono 0-1 Butembe

Butembe emerged as champions of the seventh edition of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup, which concluded over the weekend at Bugembe Stadium.

Ivan Nakalanga’s decisive finish secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Butembe against Bukono in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd.

The match started brightly for Butembe, with Nakalanga’s early goal sending fans into jubilation.

Despite Bukono’s persistent attempts to equalize, Butembe’s resolute defence held firm, ensuring they maintained a clean sheet and clinched the title.

His Royal Highness, William Wilberforce Gabula, honoured the grand finale with his presence, presenting the trophy to the well-deserving champions.

The tournament has not only offered a platform for young, raw talent to shine but has also fostered unity among the people of the Busoga region.

The quarterfinal fixtures of the 2024 MTN Busoga Masaza Cup were confirmed on Monday, November 4 with all matches to be played at Kyabazinga Stadium in Bugembe.

As per the draws, Budiope will take on Bukono in the lunchtime kick on Friday, 8th November while Bugabula will battle defending champions Busiki in the second quarterfinal.

On Saturday, 9th November, Kigulu will face Buzaaya in the early kick-off while last year’s losing finalists Butembe battles Bunha.

During the press conference, the Busoga 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Osman Noor also unveiled the 36th Birthday celebration plans for Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV themed “Transforming Busoga through Sports & Culture”.

There will be a Royal Banquet at Igenge Palace on Saturday, 14th December and the final of MTN Busoga Masaza Cup on Sunday, 15th December.

Before the finals, Busoga United will play Uganda Cranes select side in a friendly.

Fans will access the Stadium at an Entrance Fee of 5,000/= and 2,000/= ( via MTN Momo Pay). VIP tickets will go for 25,000/=.

MTN Busoga Masaza Cup Knockout Draws (All games at Kyabazinga Stadium – Bugembe)

Quarterfinals

Friday, 8th November 2024

• Budiope Vs Bukono – 12:00 pm
• Bugabula Vs Busiki – 3:00 pm

Saturday, 9th November 2024

• Kigulu Vs Buzaaya – 12:00 pm
• Butembe Vs Bunha – 3:00 pm

Semifinals: Saturday, 23rd November 2024

• Semifinal 1 – 12:00 pm
• Semifinal 2 – 3:00 pm

3rd Place Playoff: Saturday, 30th November 2024

Final: Sunday, 15th December 2024 | 2:00 pm

Bugabula continued their strong start in this year’s MTN Busoga Masaza Cup with a 2-1 win over a determined Bunhole Bunhanhumba in Sunday’s Mawembe Hill Group match played at Kamuli Park Playground.

The home side, led by golden boot contender Majid Kazindula, took the lead in the 37th minute when he capitalized on a loose ball from teammate Collins Wakowera, volleying home.

However, the visitors responded quickly after the break. Rashid Mugere levelled the score in the 47th minute with a clever chip over Bugabula’s advancing goalkeeper, Reagan Mudusu.

Despite several defensive lapses, Bunhole Bunhanhumba managed to stay in the contest, thanks to their exceptional goalkeeper, Nasser Kalulu, who made several saves.

However, the decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Aaron Birikadde unleashed a thunderous strike from about 25 yards out, leaving Kalulu helpless as Bugabula secured their second campaign win.

With this victory, Bugabula tops the group standings with six points, while Bunhole Bunhanhumba sits in second place with three points. Bukono remains without a point after the first round.

Reflecting on the match, Bugabula coach Ronald Lukungu said; “It was a tense match against a very good team that competed well against us in the first half, but our calm approach in the second half helped us to bag home three points. It’s a pleasure to be among the teams leading a group before the interval.”

Bunhole Bunhanhumba’s coach, Ali Kasolo, expressed optimism despite the loss. “My players did not have a chance of training together in the camp. But we hope to give Bugabula a good game in the return fixture next weekend. I pledge to the team patron to improve on the team’s support.”

The action resumes next weekend with a series of matches in the second round.

Last year’s MTN Busoga Masaza Cup top goal scorer, Ashiraf Amuke, demonstrated why he’s a strong contender for this year’s Golden Boot by scoring one of the fastest-ever goals in the tournament’s history.

Amuke netted the winning goal in the 40th second, leading holders Busiki to a 1-0 victory over Bulamogi. This crucial win has positioned Busiki at the top of the Nendha Hill group after the first round of matches.

The match held at Busiki College Namutumba on Sunday was the final game of the first round for the Nendha Hill group. The encounter was marked by dramatic moments, including a missed penalty by Bulamogi’s Imuram Makumbi whose attempt to equalize was thwarted by Busiki’s goalkeeper Andrew Aboke.

Despite both teams showcasing attacking prowess, neither side managed to score again, allowing Busiki to secure their second consecutive home win of the campaign and sit atop the Nendha Hill group with 6 points from three matches.

Busiki coach Dennis Watuke expressed satisfaction with the win but voiced frustration over the referee’s decisions. “Good that we got another vital home win but we were not happy with the referee’s decisions. But we are rallying our fans to cheer us more as we head for two away matches that we must win to cement our spot into the quarter-finals.”

On the other hand, Bulamogi’s coach Godfrey Okello acknowledged the defeat: “We lost today but we are going back to the drawing board to work on our mistakes before the second round.”

Elsewhere at Iganga ground, two-time winners Kigulu defeated Bukooli 1-0 to take the top spot in the Bukowe Hill group with 7 points.

The standings at the end of the first round are as follows:

• Kagulu Hill Group: Butembe leads with 4 points.
• Nendha Hill Group: Busiki leads with 6 points.
• Mawembe Hill Group: Bugabula leads with 6 points.
• Bukowe Hill Group: Kigulu leads with 7 points.

The MTN Busoga Masaza Cup surged into matchday four with a dramatic showcase, as Butembe emerged as the sole winner on Saturday.

The highlight of the day came from Budondo Subcounty Playground where Nicolous Mukiibi etched his name into tournament history by scoring the fastest goal ever recorded.

Mukiibi, the dynamic number nine for Butembe, stole the spotlight with a stunning strike just 48 seconds into the game. After receiving a precise threaded pass from Ivan Nakalanga, who had himself been set up by Abbey Mulamba’s cross, Mukiibi unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards to secure the early lead.

Despite a determined effort from Buzaaya, Butembe’s defense remained steadfast, denying any clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes. This impressive performance propelled Butembe to the top of the Kagulu Hill Group standings with four points from two matches. Buzaaya follows in second place with three points, while the 2022 champions Bukooli Namayingo trail in third.

Butembe’s coach, Isaac Kitakule, expressed his gratitude for the win, praising his team’s adherence to their game plan. “I have to thank God for today’s victory. My players executed our strategy perfectly by targeting an early goal,” Kitakule remarked.

In contrast, Afan Ikoba, the coach of Buzaaya, was visibly frustrated with his team’s missed opportunities. “Conceding so early was a setback. We struggled to create and convert chances, but we still have room to correct our mistakes,” Ikoba said.

Elsewhere, at the Buseesa ground, Bugweri and Budiope played out a 1-1 draw, leaving Bugweri atop the Nendha Hill Group with four points, level with Budiope. Bulamogi and Busiki are close behind, each with three points.

Bunha, still searching for their first win, were held to a 1-1 draw by Luuka at Kiyunga Saza ground, leaving them winless with three draws from their three matches.

The action continues today as Busiki hosts Bulamogi and two-time champions Kigulu take on Bukooli Bugiri at Iganga Saza Ground.

MTN Uganda, in proud partnership with the Busoga Kingdom, earlier today launched the 7th edition of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup.

The announcement was made at a grand event held at the Busoga Kingdom Hall, with representatives from both MTN Uganda and the Busoga Kingdom in attendance.

This year’s sponsorship package includes both financial and in-kind contributions, underscoring MTN’s dedication to making the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup 2024 bigger and better than ever before. With the launch, MTN Uganda reaffirms its commitment to youth development, sports excellence, and community unity in the Busoga Region.

Denis Harindimana, MTN Uganda’s Eastern Region Head of Marketing, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament.

“We as MTN Uganda are proud to be partners with Busoga Kingdom in a number of activities. Above all, we are proud of working with the kingdom in its search for talent identification. We therefore commit ourselves more with a bigger sponsorship package that will make the competition bigger and better this year, given the large crowds that we saw in the last edition,” Harindimana said.

The tournament will officially kick off on August 3, 2024, with an opening match between Bugweri and the defending champions Busiki at the Bugweri District Headquarters playground.

The groupings for this year’s competition were meticulously drawn during a meeting held at the Busoga Kingdom headquarters, attended by team chairmen and CEOs.

The groups are as follows:

• Nendha: Busiki, Budiope, Bulamogi, Bugweri
• Mawembe: Bugabula, Bunhole Bunanumba, Bokono
• Bukowe: Kigulu, Bunha, Bukooli Bugiri, Luuka
• Kagulu: Butembe, Buzaya, Bukooli Namayingo

Quarterfinal Matchups

• Winner Nendha vs Runners-up Mawembe
• Winner Mawembe vs Runners-up Nendha
• Winner Bukowe vs Runners-up Kagulu
• Winner Kagulu vs Runners-up Bukowe

The winners will then advance to the semi-finals and ultimately, the final match, where the champions of the 7th edition will be crowned.

This year, the cash prizes have been increased to motivate and reward the top-performing teams. The winning team will receive UGX 13 million, the second place UGX 9 million, third place UGX 6 million, and fourth place UGX 4 million.

The Chief Guest, Osman Noor Ahmed, the Second Deputy Minister in Obwakyabazinga bwa Busoga, commended the discipline observed in the previous edition, which contributed to the continued sponsorship.

“The Busoga Masaza Cup football tournament cannot take its due course without our sponsors, MTN Uganda. It is through the discipline from the last edition and the large crowds that our sponsors continue their support. Therefore, let’s maintain total discipline so that such tournaments can continuously be sponsored,” Noor Ahmed said.

Day Two Fixtures (August 10)

• Bukono vs Bugabula
• Luuka vs Kigulu
• Bukooli Namayingo vs Butembe

• Butembe 0-1 Busiki 

The 2023 MTN Busoga Masaza Cup concluded on Saturday, 30th December with Busiki County claiming their first-ever title.

Ismail Ndifuna netted the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute of the game to help Busiki collect their first silverware.

The victors started the game played at a packed-to-capacity Kakindu Stadium in the heart of Jinja city the better side and assumed early control of the game.

Little surprise that the first clear-cut chance came their way as Alimansi Bidondole’s long-range effort rattled off the crossbar in the ninth minute to send early signs.

Butembe responded to the early pressure from their opponents and nearly took the lead with forward Tonny Tulituka landing their first chance of the game but narrowly missed target from about 20 yards out.

Tilituka wasted two more chances before halftime while at the other end, Owen Isabirye and Ndifuna wasted a couple of chances as the scoreboard read nil-nil at the break.

While Busiki remained in control of possession after halftime, the first chance of the second half went to Butembe but a wasteful Tilituka tapped George Mutuuba’s glorious cross over the bar.

The Match’s defining moment arrived with under 20 minutes to play after Ndifuna curled home past goalkeeper Peter Kadama after a solo run to spark wild celebrations from Busiki fans.

Busiki stood firm for the remaining minutes to win the cup that came along with a cash reward of Ugx 12,000,000. Butembe got silver medals and Ugx 8,000,000 whilst Kigulu who finished third after beating Bugabula 3-1 early took home Ugx 6,000,000.

Team Line Ups

Busiki XI: Andrew Aboket (G.K), John Mugalula, Ivan Bashir Tewa, Tibibita Arrajabu, Paul Pompey Bweni, Owen Gasta Isabirye, Alimansi Bidondole, Michael Kimuli, Silas Kalireku, Ismail Ndifuna, Fahad Mukase

Subs: Aramathan Mubiru (G.K), Musa Rahim Kigenyi, Allan Kirunda, David Isiko, Ibrahim Isabirye, Abdullah Kawanguzi

Butembe XI: Peter Kadama (G.K), Mikel Abasa, Maurice Isabirye, Issa Balaba (Captain), Fahad Ochan, Sowedi Lwenda, Jamada Ikoba, Richard Okello, Tonny Tulituka, Simon Mulindha, Amos Kathaya

Subs: Julius Emetu (G.K), Cyness Wejuli, Rodney Matovu, George Mutuuba, Tonny Kasibe, Kenneth Bwamiki

The curtains come down on the 2023 Busoga Masaza Cup today (Saturday, 30th December) as Busiki takes on Butembe in the final at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja.

Winners of the tournament in 2017, Butembe will be targeting their second title while their opponents will be looking to get their name on the cup for the first.

Afan Ikoba, the head coach of Butembe, says his troops prepared well for the clash and are ready for the battle.

“We prepared well. The training sessions have been great and all the players are mentally and physically ready for the battle at hand,” Ikoba who doubles as the Jinja North United coach said.

The final promises high stakes with prize money of 12 million shillings for the winner and 8 million for the runners-up.

Before the final, Bugabula will take on Kigulu in the third-place playoff.

The chief guest of the finale will be the Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom His Majesty William Nadiope IV.

Previous Winners

Bukoli Bugiri won the inaugural edition in 2016 and Butembe won the subsequent tournament before Kigulu won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.

The tournament was not played in the two COVID years before returning last year when Bukooli Namayingo were victors.

Cast of Winners

• 2016: Bukooli Bugiri
• 2017: Butembe
• 2018: Kigulu
• 2019: Kigulu
• 2020: N/A (COVID-19)
• 2021: N/A (COVID-19)
• 2022: Bukooli Namayingo

Semifinal Results

• Butembe 1(4)-1(1) Kigulu
• Busiki 0(4)-0(3) Bugabula

The semifinal stage of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup was concluded over the weekend with Busiki and Butembe securing hard-fought victories, propelling them into the final.

The stage is now set for a thrilling cup clash on December 30 at Kakindu Stadium, promising football enthusiasts in the Kingdom an enthralling culmination to this prestigious tournament.

How Butembe and Busiki reached the finals

The clash between Butembe and two-time winner Kigulu unfolded dramatically at Bugembe Stadium. Despite a soggy playing surface due to earlier rains and a late 4:45 pm kick-off, Butembe emerged as 4-1 victors after a penalty shootout.

Mikel Abasa set the tone for Butembe, splendidly scoring directly from a corner in the 25th minute but Kigulu responded when Butembe’s goalkeeper, Peter Kadama, made a mess of Amos Tatambula’s cross ten minutes into the second half.

Kadama made amends later on as he ensured the game would be settled in a shootout and stood tall between the posts with only Sula Kisubi finding the net. Butembe’s Maurice Isabirye, Simon Mutinda, and Tonny Tulituka secured the victory, propelling Butembe into the finals.

Butembe’s coach, Afan Ikoba, reflected on their strategy. “We knew we were against a very worthy finalist with very good players, and we had to settle for an early goal strategy that was vital.”

In another enthralling encounter, Busiki secured their place in the finals with a 4-3 shootout win over Bugabula following a goalless draw at Gaddafi Arena. Despite the absence of goals in regular time, the intensity was palpable as both teams battled for a spot in the championship match.

Final Showdown Beckons

With the semifinal dust settled, the stage is set for a thrilling final between Butembe and Busiki at Kakindu Stadium on December 30.

Both teams demonstrated resilience and skill in their respective shootout victories, leaving fans eager to witness who will emerge as the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup winner.

The final promises high stakes, with a trophy and prize money of Ugx12m for the winner and Ugx8m for the runners-up.

The stage is set for the 2023 MTN Masaza Cup Quarterfinals following the conclusion of the group stages over the weekend.

At Kyabazinga Stadium in Bugembe, Butembe and Buzaaya played to a goalless draw, securing their spots in the quarterfinals.

Buzaaya, with eight points, topped the group finishing three points ahead of the second-placed Butembe.

In the aftermath of the game, Mike Mugweri, Buzaaya’s assistant coach said: “We came into this game with a plan of playing for a draw as this really paid off as we head into the quarterfinals.

“We came to play for a draw to keep our team in the right shape ahead of the match against Kigulu. At this moment, we don’t fear any opponent.”

On the other hand, Butembe’s head coach, Afan Ikoba, expressed confidence in his squad. despite going three matches without scoring.

“We might have struggled for goals in the group stages, but fans should not underestimate us. We are capable of playing a more entertaining game against any side in the tournament,” said Ikoba. “We have struggled in the group stages, but we hope not to disappoint our doubters come the quarterfinals,” he added.

The quarterfinal picture is now complete and will be played on Friday, November 10 and the subsequent day.

Quarter-Final Matches:

Friday, November 10

• Bugweri vs. Butembe
• Bugabula vs. Bukooli Namayingo

Saturday, November 11

• Buzaaya vs. Kigulu
• Busiki vs. Bunha