Mike Azira has on called time on his Uganda Cranes career, announcing his retirement in a statement.

In a letter addressed to Fufa President, Moses Magogo, the midfielder says it has been an honour to represent his country.

“Please accept this letter as a notification that I wish to retire from the National Team effective 14th April 2021. Playing for the national team has been an honour and I’m grateful for the opportunity you gave me to represent my country and my family,” reads the letter in part.

In the letter, Azira lauds the players he has played with, the coaches and the fans.

“I take this moment to thank all the coaches I have worked with over the years and I also thanks to the fans who have always supported us home and on the road.”

Azira follows captain Onyango and defender cum midfielder Hassan Wasswa who announced their retirement on Monday and Saturday last week respectively.

The calm and composed midfielder has featured for the National Team on only ten occasions since making his debut in 2016.

He was part of the final team for the Uganda Cranes at the previous two Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon (2017) and Egypt (2019).

Azira, 33, began his career at Jogoo Young, a youth team attached to SC Villa. He later moved to USA where he has lived since 2008.

Currently, Azira is attached to New Mexico United FC which plays in the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer.

Hassan Wasswa Mawanda has announced retirement from international football.

The utility player retires from Uganda Cranes after thirteen years of service during which he played at Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 20019.

With 75 caps, Wasswa served the national team with diligence, commitment, and affluent leadership.

In the message shared on his official Facebook page, Wasswa tagged the day of retirement from the Cranes as one of reflection and gratitude.

Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude. Playing for Cranes has been a tremendous honor. During my 13 years as a Cranes player, I’ve always pursued success and winning football games, while preparing and training with the highest standards of competition, passion and perseverance. It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates and the people of Uganda. With much sadness but without regret, I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to the unwavering standard of excellence that professional football demands. I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring from the National team. I love the game of football so much, and I know there is truly only one acceptable way to play. Knowing I can no longer compete at a level that I find acceptable, I have chosen to end my Cranes career. This decision is mine alone, and although I know this will not bring me happiness, it is the right and honorable action to take at this time in my life. I cherished every moment of my time with the National team, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played. I anxiously look forward to next Cranes engagement, but this time with the sole focus of being a great fan. Reflecting on my 13 years with the Cranes, and all that was required to reach my current situation, reminded me of the many people I owe humble, sincere gratitude. My parents provided me with the perfect combination of love and discipline, and taught me what hard work and persistence truly are. All that I am, and everything I have done, is because of them. Every time I put on that Cranes uniform, I have always strived to honor them and the principles they stand for, and I can only hope that I haven’t let them down. The coaches I have learned from and played for as a Cranes player have been nothing short of outstanding. It was an absolute privilege to play for all of them, from Coach Lazio Csaba in 2006 to Coach Jonathan McKinstry during my final time. All of the assistant coaches, and entire technical team were absolutely devoted to helping me perform to the best of my abilities. Thank you for your effort and dedication. It was an honor to play for you. To my exceptional teammates, former and current, I owe you everything. I look forward to addressing you formally and privately at a later time, but please know that I love and respect all of you, and not having the opportunity to be around you is what will hurt most of all. Forming friendships and unbreakable bonds of trust on the field is what makes football so special and so important to me. When reminiscing on my Cranes career, I won’t think about games won or lost, but rather, I know I will think about you and the time we shared together, the trust and love we had for each other and the unwavering willingness we had to help each other succeed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I thank ALLAH every day for all that He has given me: my family, my friends, my teammates and for making me Ugandan. Today, I would like to thank God for having been given an opportunity to play for Cranes, and for allowing me the privilege of a 13-year professional football career. 

Hassan Wasswa, via Facebook

Wasswa played for KCCA, SC Villa and Vipers locally and beyond boarders, the midfielder turned out for St George (Ethiopia), FC Cape Town (South Africa), Karabukspor (Turkey), Altay (Turkey), Kayseri Erciyesspor (Turkey), Dong Nai (Vietnam), Al Shorta (Iraq), Nejmeh Sporting Club (Lebanon), Tala’ea El Gaish Sporting Club (Egypt) and recently Jeddah club in Saudi Arabia.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) has parted ways with Uganda Cranes head coach Jonathan McKinstry.

McKinstry leave the Cranes job after overseeing 17 matches in which he won 11, drew 3 and lost as many.

“The Head Coach of the Uganda Men’s National team, Johnathan McKinstry, has today reached an agreement with FUFA to bring an end to his 18 months at the helm of the Uganda Cranes.

“FUFA would like to thank Coach McKinstry and his staff for the work and dedication to developing the Uganda Cranes during their tenure.

“We would like to thank Coach McKinstry for the professionalism demonstrated during his employment with FUFA, and we wish him well in all his future endeavours,” a statement from Fufa reads.

In the interim, Abdallah Mubiru and Livingstone Mbabazi will handle the team with Fred Kajoba remaining the goalkeepers coach.

Uganda Cranes games under McKinstry

1. Ethiopia 0-1 Uganda – Friendly
2. Burkina Faso 0-0 Uganda – 2021 AFCON Qualifier
3. Uganda 2-0 Malawi – 2021 AFCON Qualifier
4. Uganda 2-1 Burundi – 2019 CECAFA
5. Uganda 2-0 Somalia – 2019 CECAFA
6. Uganda 2-0 Eritrea – 2019 CECAFA
7. Uganda 4-1 Djibouti – 2019 CECAFA
8. Uganda 1-0 Tanzania – 2019 CECAFA
9. Uganda 3-1 Eritrea – 2019 CECAFA
10. Uganda 1-0 South Sudan – 2021 AFCON Qualifier
11. South Sudan 1-0 Uganda – 2021 AFCON Qualifier
12. Cameroon 1-1 Uganda – Pre CHAN Tournament
13. Uganda 2-0 Zambia – Pre CHAN Tournament
14. Niger 0-3 Uganda – Pre CHAN Tournament
15. Uganda 0-0 Rwanda – 2020 CHAN
16. Togo 2-1 Uganda -2020 CHAN
17. Morocco 5-2 Uganda – 2020 CHAN

Summary of Games

• Games Managed – 17
• Wins – 11
• Draws – 3
• Losses -3
• Goals For – 27
• Goals Against – 12

Uganda Cranes captain Denis Masinde Onyango has retired from international football.

Onyango announced his retirement from the Cranes on Monday evening via his social media platforms.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from International Football. After much consideration, my family, managers and I decided it was in my best interest to hang my gloves on my beloved Cranes. Big thanks to every Ugandan over the years,” he noted.

Onyango also wrote to FUFA President, Moses Magogo, notifying him and the Federation of his decision to retire from the national team.

“This letter represents my official notice of retirement from the Uganda National Football Team, The Cranes effective April 12, 2021.

“It has been a great pleasure and honour to represent my country and I will always appreciate the experience and knowledge that I have gained while playing for the Uganda Cranes.”