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Livingstone Mbabazi has returned to Mbarara City as head coach for the third time.
MTN Sports understands that Mbabazi has agreed on a two-year employment contract that will see him at the club until 2026.
Mbabazi will replace Wasswa Bbosa, who was at the help of the club for one season and managed to finish 10th on the long.
The CAF B tactician will have a big assignment of assembling a strong Mbarara City side that is capable of challenging the big boys in the league.
This being his third tenure at Mbarara City, his maiden was the 2018-19 and then 2021 before he moved to the West Nile working with Onduparaka and Arua Hill, respectively.
The gaffer’s most recent managerial role was with UPL giants Vipers before he was relieved from duty on April 2, 2024.
He has also coached sides like Lweza (coach-player), Masavu, Wakiso Giants, Onduparaka, Kyetume, Uganda Revenue Authority, Arua Hill and Vipers.
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.
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)
Maroons forward Fred Amaku and SC Villa gaffer Dusan Stojanovic were recognised as the Best Player and Coach for the months of March and April.
The duo was awarded in a ceremony that was held at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo on Monday, May 6, 2024.
To win the award, Stojanovic beat stiff competition from Hussein Mbalangu of NEC and Maroons’ Senfuma Muhammad.
In March and April, SC Villa won four games and drew two, losing none thus hailing Stojanovic to the accolade.
Mbalangu’s NEC secured three victories and two losses in the five games played while Maroons won twice, drew once and lost twice.
Amaku beat competition from KCCA’s Muhammad Shaban and Vipers SC’s Allan Okello.
In the five games played, Amaku scored three goals, made an assist and also received a man-of-the-match accolade.
In the same breath, Shaban scored three goals and made an assist but fell short to Amaku who received a man of the accolade.
Okello only managed two goals and one assist in the five games played in the two months.
After nearly four years, football is set to return to Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
The development comes after the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) announced that the refurbished stadium will host two Uganda Premier League matches on 1st May.
Rogers Byamukama, a FUFA Executive Committee member, told the press on Wednesday at FUFA Complex that the two UPL encounters will be used as the soft testing of the stadium as directed by CAF before granting the greenlight to host international games again.
“As we are all aware, there has been renovation works going on at Namboole and we are in the final stages of having the stadium re-opened. But one of the conditions CAF set was to have test matches and see if the venue is ready,” Byamukama said.
“FUFA and the Uganda Premier League Secretariat sat together and agreed to have two League games serve as test matches for the refurbished stadium. We zeroed down on two key fixtures that have a bearing on the title race,” he added.
The two fixtures are KCCA FC vs SC Villa which will kick off at 4:00pm and BUL FC vs Vipers SC which will be a night game with kickoff at 7:00pm.
According to Paul Kabaikaramu, the Uganda Premier League Manager, all four clubs were consulted and they agreed to have the matches played at Namboole.
“We engaged the clubs, especially the hosts BUL FC and KCCA FC who all agreed to this arrangement,” he stated.
It should be noted that FUFA is fighting hard to have Uganda Cranes host their upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers home matches against Botswana and Algeria in June at Namboole.
- Uganda Premier League | Fixture
- Kitara vs Vipers – 4:00pm
Kitara Football Club and Vipers Sports Club will be locking horns in a highly anticipated Uganda Premier League encounter at Masindi Municipality Stadium on Friday.
Vipers will seek to avenge Kitara in their own backyard today. The game comes five days after Kitara ejected Vipers from the Uganda Cup.
In the pre-match conference, Kitara head coach Brian Ssenyondo revealed that they will put up a required fight because they still want to guard their position.
“We know the challenge ahead but we know what to do,” he stated before adding; “Hopefully we shall do the desired task of playing some good football so that we get the three points that we really need.”
“We are playing Vipers a team we recently faced in the Uganda Cup. It was not an easy game because we were facing a defending champion so coming into this game we know it will equally be a difficult game.”
“This game decides much on who is in which position and we would want to keep our position as well as the points difference. We know it will not be an easy game but we’ve had a few days to prepare and see that we rectify some of our mistakes.”
After ejecting Vipers from the Uganda Cup, Kitara come into this duel more confident knowing their chances of winning a double are still much alive.
The hosts will miss the services of Jasper Aheebwa (suspension), Yiga Najib (loan from Vipers) and Ibrahim Magandaazi who is still in the sickbay.
Vipers will miss Ghanaian forward Asiwome Fumador who is still nursing a muscle strain.
A victory for Vipers lifts them the log summit and they will throw everything on the line to ensure they collect maximum points.
Uganda Cranes twice recovered from a goal down to draw with Ghana in an International Friendly played in Morocco on Tuesday evening.
During the post-match press conference, Uganda Cranes head Paul Put praised the boys for the character and spirit shown in the game against Ghana.
“I am happy with the result because we played one of the strongest teams in Africa so I think the players made a good performance,” he stated.
“But we must not be blind for a tournament like World Cup qualifiers. We conceded two goals again today so we have to learn so that it does not happen in June because if it happens in June then it’s hard to come back,” he added.
Having lost 4-0 to Comoros, the gaffer revealed there is visible progress and he hopes the team can still get better.
“I think there is progress but also still a lot of work to do. I hope to recover injured players for the game in June because we had to change a lot so it’s not that easy,” he concluded.
With just four games in charge, Uganda has greatly improved in a number of aspects. First, it was very hard to see a Cranes side play four to five organised passes but also the boys are pressing well and that hardly allows the opponent’s backline to have any liberty of starting play from the back.
Uganda Cranes showed enthusiasm and character as they twice fought from a goal down to share spoils with Ghana 2-2 in a practice match on Tuesday.
In a game played in Marrakech, Morocco, Ghana was the better side in the first stanza before Uganda improved their craft in the second half.
Tom Ikara made a thrilling full stretch save, palming away Jordan Ayew’s free kick from the edge of the box in the six minute.
A minute later, Jerome Opoku rose highest to nod home Ayew’s well weighted corner kick. However, it was an easy goal given away by the flat footed Uganda backline.
In the 21st minute, quick footed Rogers Mato was tripped in the area by defender Ebenezer Annan and Uganda were awarded a penalty.
Steven Dese Mukwala stepped up to the occasion and calmly converted from the 12-yard mark as he sent Ghana custodian Joseph Luke Wallacott the wrong way.
Seven minutes later, Mukwala collided with Ghana’s right back in the area and the centre referee once again pointed to the spot.
Ghana’s skipper Ayew converted from the mark thus regaining their lead that was guarded until the break.
Going into the second stanza, Paul Put introduced Karim Watambala and Halid Lwaliwa for Toby Sibbick and Travis Mutyaba.
The changes created a balance as Watambala brought energy and pace, giving Ghana’s midfielders more work to do.
In the final 20 minutes, Uganda introduced Muhammad Shaban and Moses Aliro to replace Mukwala and Fahad Bayo.
The duo combined as Shaban levelled matters thanks to his great anticipation that saw him rebound from close range.
- Practice Games – Fixture
- Uganda vs Ghana – 7 PM
Shortly after the disappointing outing against Comoros, Uganda Cranes seek to eradicate their earlier shortcomings in another practice game against Ghana.
As the International Break nears closure, the two sides will face off today (Tuesday, March 26) in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In the previous game, Uganda Cranes were put to a sword in a 4-0 loss against Comoros in a duel that was played on Saturday night.
Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put expects improvement of the team as they spend more time together.
“We are still trying to build a team and some of these players have not played together,” he stated.
“I believe with time, the cohesion will be great and I have no doubt, they will improve,” he added.
However, since these are practice games and are meant to sharpen the boys ahead of more serious engagements, the starting line-up is expected to have several changes.
The two friendlies are part of the ongoing preparations ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June.
- Friendly Game – Result
- Comoros 4-0 Uganda
Uganda Cranes suffered a 4-0 loss to Comoros in an international friendly match played at Grande State, Marrakech on Friday.
This was the first friendly match of the two that Uganda Cranes are set to play in the ongoing International break.
Rafiki Saidi and Faiz Selemani scored a brace each as Comoros registered a well-deserved victory on the day.
It was a tough outing for Paul Put’s charges who conceded twice in the first eight minutes of the game.
Uganda tried to search for a consolation but the first half ended with a 2-0 advantage to Comoros after playing for 45 minutes.
Four minutes to the hour-mark Comoros added a third through Rafiki Said before Selemani sealed the victory from the spot in the 65th minute.
This was Paul Put’s third game in charge of the team.
However, the rebuild will continue as Put along with the technical team build a side that will play in the upcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers with CHAN at the back of their minds.
Uganda will return to action on Tuesday, March 26 as they take on Ghana in the second game.