Brian Ssenyondo, brimming with pride after steering Kitara to their first-ever Uganda Cup victory, declared his coaching potential is only beginning to blossom.

Kitara edged out NEC 1-0 in a hard-fought cup final at Muteesa II Stadium, marking a successful season for the club.

While they narrowly missed out on the Uganda Premier League title, they secured their target of a top-four finish.

Ssenyondo, acknowledging his team’s achievement, highlighted his own coaching aspirations.

“It really means a lot to help Kitara win the Uganda Cup. I know I have a lot of potential as a coach, and I believe in myself,” Ssenyondo stated.

“I do not rest until I win, but everything has its time. I believe this was my time, and thankfully, I have won this trophy. Hopefully, I can win more with this mighty club,” he added.

“I am so happy, but I know this is just the beginning, and this comes with a lot of pressure. We missed out on the Uganda Premier League but I am glad we won the Uganda Cup.”

Ssenyondo’s triumph signifies the exciting prospects for both himself and Kitara.

The club’s exciting show in the Uganda Premier League, coupled with the Uganda Cup win, lays a solid foundation for future success.

The 2024 MTN Tooro Masaza Cup kicked off over the weekend with defending champions Mwenge South edging Burahyain in the season opener played at the Katoosa playground in Kyenjojo.

Burahya took an early lead in the well-attended game, setting the stage for what was an intense battle.

However, Mwenge South responded through Shafiq Mwesige who found the equalizer and ensured the teams went into the halftime break level at 1-1.

In the closely contested second half, it was Mwenge South that eventually found the breakthrough with Razak Musinguzi netting the decisive goal six minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory for the hosts.

“We know Burahya is not an easy team, but we also have good players who are determined. I’m happy that we played as a team and won as a team,” Mwesigye, one of the scorers for Mwenge, said in the aftermath of the game.

Burahya, who also narrowly missed out on the title to Mwenge South last year, now face questions about their ability to dethrone Mwenge but their team manager Murungi Musobozi says the fans should expect the best.

“The team was well-organized, but some mistakes cost us. We’ve been training hard and have summoned the best players from the County. Our fans should still expect the best from us,” Musobozi reflected on the match.

The MTN Tooro Amasaza Cup was officially launched recently in Fort Portal by Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Steven Kiyingi, who expressed his delight at the growing standard of the MasazaCup. He also urged sportsmen to leverage the tournament’s popularity to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which remains a significant challenge in the community.

MTN’s partnership with Tooro Kingdom extends beyond football and encompasses providing HIV testing services to residents and supporting the “End HIV by 2030” campaign led by OmukamaKabamba Iguru. This initiative underscores the organizers’ commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community.

Adding excitement to this year’s tournament, the prize money has been increased from 5 million to 7.5 million Ugandan Shillings courtesy of MTN Uganda.

The Masaza Cup action will resume next weekend with a full schedule of games, promising more excitement and competitive football.

FUFA Big League | Sunday, May 26

• Lugazi 2-0 Kaaro Karungi
• Mbale Heroes 2-1 Onduparaka
• Calvary 2-0 Kataka
• Police 2-0 Kigezi Homeboyz
• Booma 4-2 Young Elephant

Lugazi Football Club has earned its maiden slot in the Uganda Premier League after two years of building this team.

Lugazi FC reached the mark after securing a 2-0 victory against Kaaro Karungi in the FUFA Big League at Lugazi Stadium on Sunday.

Sam Ssemugugu and Ronald Ssempala were on target as Lugazi secured maximum points to seal promotion to the top football tier.

Coming into the game, Lugazi needed just a point to seal the desired dream of playing in the UPL but instead secured maximum points in style.

In the first ten minutes, Ssemugugu easily tapped in Moses Buga’s delivery to place Lugazi in the driving seat.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Ssempala doubled the hosts’ lead after guiding home Alvin Birungi’s sweet through pass.

With a 2-0 lead into the break, the hosts had a comfortable lead thus sending the fans into a party mood.

The second half was slower as the hosts decided to defend their lead thus sealing the historic win in front of a good crowd.

After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Lugazi kept on track of the dream thus sealing the dream after trying for two years.

Going into the top tier, Lugazi joins Police and Mbale Heroes while Busoga United, Gaddafi and Arua Hill are relegated to the FUFA Big League.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies Football Club have been crowned the 2023-24 FUFA Women Super League champions.

The Valley Warriors needed at least a draw over fellow title contenders Kampala Queens Football Club but got victory they got in their own backyard to claim their fifth title.

Kawempe registered a 2-0 win thanks to second-half goals from MVP and top scorer Agnes Nabukenya and Allen Nassazi.

However, it was Kampala Queens that dominated proceedings in the opening 45 minutes but were not lethal in front of goal.

In the second half, the hosts were the better side and utilized their goal-scoring opportunities.

Nabukenya fired home a free kick in the 67th minute before Nassaazi doubled Kawempe’s advantage with her headed effort.

Victory took Kawempe Muslim’s points tally to 40 while Kampala Queens finished with 36 points.

It is the fifth top-flight title for Kawempe Muslim in history, but their first since the name changed to FUFA Women Super League in 2019.

Ahead of the highly anticipated and eagerly awaited Uganda Cranes’ return to Namboole, MTN Uganda has launched a fans’ campaign dubbed “Show Us Your Fayaaa!”.

The campaign is aimed at finding the Uganda Cranes and Crested Cranes official cheerleaders.

To be part of the campaign, fans are required to record a short video of themselves cheerleading Uganda Cranes and share the video on Social Media with Fufa TV, NBS Sport or Bukedde TV for a chance to be selected to be the official cheerleader of the national teams.

“One of the best news we have had this year is that Namboole is back and Uganda Cranes will begin to play their games at the Namboole starting with the World Cup Qualifiers in their real home and that gives us great joy and an opportunity to start this rally,” MTN Uganda CMO, Somdev Sen, said.

“It’s for the supporters of the beautiful game. We wanted to rekindle that fire today as the fans return to Namboole to cheer their favourite team – the Uganda Cranes.

“Fans make a lot of difference and today marks the beginning for the fans to return to the stadium. At the end of the day, it’s about the passion,” he added.

Uganda Cranes is set to return to Mandela National Stadium – Namboole in June when they host two Fifa World Cup Qualifier matches against Algeria and Botswana.

Kawempe Muslim suffered a painful 1-0 loss to Morocco in the 2024 CAF African Schools Football Championship at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Thursday.

Morocco took the lead in the second minute and held onto the advantage to secure a ticket to the finals of the tournament.

Uganda’s representatives will now switch attention thus fighting for the third place against the hosts Tanzania.

Kawempe Muslim suffered their first loss of the campaign after winning two and drawing one in the group stages.

Kawempe Muslim head coach Ayub Khalifa stated that they will plan for the classification match to see that they go back home with a medal.

“We shall go back to the drawing board and plan for the game because we want to go back home with victory,” he stated.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost to Morocco. We conceded very early and it cost us a lot because we started the game on a very wrong note,” he added.

“In the game against Tanzania, we expect to improve on a number of things to ensure that we win the game and see that we go back home with something.”

Uganda will take on Tanzania in the classification at 2:30 PM while Morocco will lock horns with South Africa in the final and the game will kick off an hour later.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has today Thursday, May 23 named a 28-man squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes is set to face Botswana and Algeria and both games will be played at the Mandela National Stadium, Nambole.

It will be the first time the National Team returns to its home for the first time since 2019 when they secured a victory against Malawi.

The 28-man squad is made up of four goals, nine defenders, six midfielders and nine forwards.

The squad is expected to enter the camp on Thursday, May 30 to kickstart preparations early enough ahead of the two home games.

Italian-based defender Elio Capradossi appears to be the only surprise call on the squad. The defender plays for Calcio Lecco FC in the Serie B of Italy and his arrival will add more quality to Uganda’s backline.

The defender is a graduate of AS Roma Youth Academy and he is a winner of the 2015-2016 Italian U19 Championship with AS Roma’s U19 team as the captain.

In the other interesting call-ups, youngster Joel Sserunjogi has also made it to the Uganda Cranes Squad. The holding midfielder had a great season with KCCA and hope he carries his form to the national team.

Uganda is in group G of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. They will take on Botswana on Friday, June 7 before they lock hones with Algeria on Monday, June 10.

Uganda Cranes Squad

Goalkeepers: Isima Bid Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Crispus Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda), Braddy Jeans Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda)

Defenders: Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC, Scotland), Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Capradossi Elio (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy), Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia)

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC, USA), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bull II, USA), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt)

Forwards: Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana), Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu (Port Vale, England), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC, Uganda), Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Rogers Kassim Mato (Brera Strumica), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda)

Paul Mucureezi has today Thursday, May 23 bid farewell to the management, fans, and family of Kitara Football Club.

Mucureezi joined the Hoima-based club in January 2023 and he has been at the club for two seasons since leaving Vipers SC.

In an emotional farewell message, Mucureezi acknowledged the love and support at the club and revealed that Kitara will forever be his home and family.

“To all the fans of Kitara, it’s been an amazing time with you. I am so delighted to have been a player of this great club,” Mucureezi stated.

“The atmosphere at the club has been so amazing. I will move with all the memories we have shared because they were all amazing. I am so humbled having played for this club. It will always be a club loved by my family and me,” he added.

“Kitara will always be home and I will have the club at heart. Thank you so much for everything, I call upon all fans to turn up in big numbers as we fight for the Uganda Cup at Wankulukuku,” he concluded.

It will be a perfect send-off for Mucureesi if Kitara manages to beat NEC on the day.

Playing his sixth Uganda Cup final, Mucureezi will be seeking to write down history by lifting the fourth Uganda Cup.

• Uganda Cup Final
• NEC FC vs Kitara FC
• Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku

NEC will be taking Kitara in the 2023/24 Uganda Cup at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Ahead of the highly anticipated game, NEC head coach Hussein Mbalangu expressed readiness and revealed they are hungry for glory.

“I want to assure our fans of a revamped team that is hungry for glory,” he stated.

“We are a different team from the one that played last weekend on the final day of the Uganda Premier League against SC Villa,” he added.

Mbalangu is aware of the tough challenge staged in the final and believes they have fully recovered from the League’s fatigue.

“Although the team appeared fatigued in the previous games due to a long season, we have had a week of recovery and hopefully by Saturday the players will have recovered.”

“We also know the magnitude of the game thus we shall have to work hard and win the Cup. I am not under any pressure because I have previously won this trophy as a player,” he concluded.

The winner of the Uganda Cup will pocket a cash prize of Ugx 50 million while the runners-up will take Ugx 25 million.

The overall winner of the Cup will represent Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

While BUL were on the verge of lifting the Uganda Premier League title, Busoga United and Gaddafi were relegated to the FUFA Big League.

Busoga United were promoted to the top tier after the 2015- 2016 campaign before they found their way back to the second tier after the recent season.

In the 2017/18 campaign, Busoga United finished fifth before they moved a position above in the 2019/20 season but from that point, things went south.

The club struggled with financial troubles and management constraints before they finally sealed their ticket to the Big League.

Emotionally, players Lawrence Tezikya, Jeromy Kirya and gaffer Abby Kikongo led BUL as they beat Busoga United to confirm their painful relegation.

In the same breath, Gaddafi was also relegated after two seasons in the top tier. After the recently concluded campaign, BUL remains the only team in Jinja.