Vipers SC midfielder Abdu Karim Watambala has been summoned to join the Uganda Cranes after a late call.

Watambala will be part of the Cranes fold that will play against Comoros and Ghana in the upcoming international friendly games.

The two friendly games will be played on Friday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 26 in Morocco during the FIFA International window.

Watambala comes into the squad as a direct replacement for Bobosi Byaruhanga who has been ruled out for the two games due to injury.

Byaruhanga becomes the fourth player to be erased from the team sheet due to injuries. First, Khalid Aucho and Aziz Kayondo were not even named due to injuries.

The duo was followed by Allan Kyambade who will also miss the upcoming games due to an ankle injury that he picked during a recent outing.

The upcoming games will give the squad a good test as they prepare for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers and FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes stars will battle in the Quarterfinals of Africa’s premier club competition, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The draw for the 2023/24 quarterfinals has been conducted by the Confederation of African Football and has pitted Young Africans against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The highly anticipated two-legged clash will see Ugandan internationals Khalid Aucho and Gift Fred (Young Africans) play against their former Cranes captain Denis Masinde Onyango (Sundowns).

The first legs will be played on March 29-30 while the return legs are scheduled for April 5-6, 2024.

In other draws, record winners and defending champions Al Ahly (Egypt) face Tanzania’s Simba, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire take on Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia while TP Mazembe (DR Congo) will battle with Angola’s Atletico Petros.

Semifinals

In the semifinals, the winner between Esperance and ASEC Mimosas face the winner between Yanga and Sundowns and the other semifinal will feature winners in games involving TP Mazembe/Petro Atletico and Al Ahly/Simba.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named a squad of 26 players ahead of the two international friendly games against Comoros and Ghana.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) on Friday confirmed that Cranes will face Comoros on 26th March and Ghana four days later in Marrakech, Morocco.

On the squad named, two new players are getting their first call to the national team and these are Toby Peter Sibbick, a 24-year-old defender on the books of Hearts of Midlothian in Scotland and the other is striker Carl James Mujaguzi who plays for FC Athlone in Ireland.

Goalkeeper Giousue Bellagambi who played for the U23 team last year in friendlies against Comoros and Ghana has also been summoned.

Meanwhile, Steven Mukwala returns to the national team fold after a while as does Allan Kyambadde.

Summoned Squad

Goalkeepers: Tom Ikara (BUL FC), Jack Komakech (Vipers SC), Giousue Bellagambi (Huddersfield Town FC)

Defenders: Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa), Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC), Toby Sibbick (Hearts FC), Halidi Lwaliwa (Bregalnica STIP), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC), Denis Kaka Omony (Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

Midfielders: Allan Kyambadde (El Dakhieya SC), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC), Moses Opondo (AC Horsens), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC), Ashraf Mugume (KCCA FC)

Forwards: Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC), Rogers Kassim Mato (Brena Strumica), Moses Aliro Okabo (URA FC), Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC), Fahad Bayo (MFK Vyskov), Carl James Mujaguzi (Athlone FC), Shafik Kakande (Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

The Uganda Cranes will be playing two international friendly games in the upcoming Fifa window.

The two practice games are set to be played between March 18 to 26, 2024.

The development was confirmed via the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) website on Friday, March 8, 2024.

The games are set to be played in Marrakech Morocco at the Stade Grande Marrakech.

Uganda will open up with Comoros on Friday, March 22 before they lock horns with Ghana four days later.

According to the announcement, the squad to take part in the two practice games will be announced shortly.

Uganda Cranes gaffer Joseph Paul Put continues to find the cream of his side since taking charge, however, during the preparations will have in mind the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

New York Red Bulls II have signed Uganda Cranes midfielder Steven Sserwadda to an MLS NEXT Pro contract.

The club announced today (February 6, 2024) that Sserwadda who has been out since April last year following surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee will be continuing with the organisation.

Sserwadda who will be entering his fourth year at the club has made 18 appearances since his debut for Red Bulls II on October 15, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In that span, Sserwadda tallied two goals and one assist.

“We have the complete belief in Steven as a person and as a player to overcome his major injury”, said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider as quoted by the club website. “We want to be there with him while he returns to the form we know he can achieve when he has fully recovered.”

The midfielder has appeared in five matches for Uganda Cranes, three of which being starts. Sserwadda made his Cranes debut on March 25 against Tajikistan.

“Steven is a talented young player that has an incredibly useful skillset in the midfield,” said Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya who is a former Cranes captain. “We have seen how he can thrive within our system, and we cannot wait to have him back in the squad.”

The New York Red Bulls II are preparing for the club’s second season in MLS NEXT Pro.

Most athletes across the globe have an interesting story when it comes to the early days of their career. Such stories sound unreal but help to empower the young talents seeking a reason not to give up.

When one looks at Onyango today and all the success he has achieved it’s easy to conclude that he might have found it easy which is far from the real story.

During an NBS TV interview (People and Power), he revealed how he was rejected at St Mary’s Kitende but he kept his head high and fought to bring his dream to reality.

“My first school was St Mary’s Kitende and it was a new school around 2002, they were more focused on quality players and I went to them but they did not like me by then,” he narrated.

“I wanted the school but the coach was not interested in me. I got an opportunity to go to a school in Butambala and they took me in senior two. It was difficult because I was going to the village. I got the grooming and I learned so many things the hard way,” he added.

“The pitch was not levelled with cows in the pitch and it was difficult. In life, if you don’t go through those challenges you will never grow. You know when you have a target and ambition you can go anywhere and they are willing to help me with school and football.”

In the turn of events, Onyango joined Villa two years after the major setback. It was a short stint with the Jogoo before he flew out of the country to join St George in Ethiopia.

Currently he plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Onyango is currently the most decorated player in South Africa after lifting 10 league titles and three Nedbank Cups.

He was also captain of the Uganda Cranes team that qualified for AFCON in 2017 which was the first time in 38 years.

Egyptian outfit Zamalek has finally unveiled Uganda Cranes youngster Travis Mutyaba to end the speculation on where the top talent was going to play.

Sources close to the club revealed that Mutyaba put pen to a long term five-year contract that will see him at the club until 2029.

The development was confirmed today Monday, February 5 on the club’s official social handles.

“Uganda gem Travis Mutyaba joins Zamalek,” the club confirmed the deal.

Mutyaba last played in the Uganda Premier League for 16-times record champions SC Villa and would always excite fans each time he was given a chance to play.

He is also a graduate of the FUFA Juniors League where he played for the Vipers Junior League giving a lot of trouble to defenders with his quick feet.

Mutyaba is a natural playmaker with the ability to drive the ball upfront with great composure on top of an eagle eye that always sets up teammates.

After entering the senior team of the Uganda Cranes, many believe that the move with help to sharpen Mutyaba’s ability but also groom him for bigger platforms.

• International Friendly | Result
• Friday, January 19, 2023
• Uganda 2-0 Kuwait

Uganda Cranes registered a 2-0 victory against Kuwait in the International Friendly game played at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo on Friday.

Ronald Ssekiganda and Alex Kitata scored the two goals as Uganda secured all the bragging rights in the trial game.

Ronald Ssekiganda fired Uganda ahead in the 10th minute to hand Paul Put’s troops an excellent start to the encounter.

From that point, Uganda held onto the lead, and the first stanza ended while they were still stuck in the driving seat.

With five minutes left on the clock, Kitata extended Uganda’s lead after spending three minutes on the field of play.

The team that was made up of only locally based players held the assignment with utmost confidence and attention as they saw off the Asian country.

This was Paul Put’s third game in charge since taking over the Uganda Cranes head coach role. Under the Belgian tactician, the team has lost once and won twice.

Uganda Starting XI: Tom Ikara (GK), Kenneth Semakula, Nicholas Mwere, Rogers Torach, Hudu Mulikyi, Ronald Ssekiganda, Ramz Kawooya, Laban Tibiita, Mohammad Shaban, Arafat Usama, Denis Omedi

• Practice Match
• Kuwait vs Uganda – 7 PM

The Uganda Cranes will lock horns with Kuwait in an International Friendly game that will be played at Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

The Cranes’ 22-man squad in Egypt is made up of only local-based players who will have the assignment to upset the Kuwait side.

Uganda goes into this game with the upper hand since they are 44 places above Kuwait who are ranked 136^th according to FIFA.

In an interview with the Daily Monitor, Bright Stars forward Nelson Senkatuka revealed that Paul Put has made it clear that he wants them to play a certain way.

“He wants us to press high, to use the ball more and keep possession,” Senkatuka noted.

“The Coach will do well, we just have to trust the process and allow him to do his job,” he added.

The only time Uganda played Kuwait was back in 1989 Islamic Peace Cup and the game ended in a one-all draw.

The game will give a chance to the local-based players to prove Paul Put how good they are ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers and CHAN preparations that will be held later this year. 

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put has named a 22-man squad that will face Kuwait in a friendly game.

The squad has already flown out of the country to Cairo, Egypt, where the game will be played on Friday, January 19.

The squad comprises two goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six forwards who will be fighting to make the starting eleven.

Initially, the summoned squad had 25 players before three were dropped to make the final squad.

Among the three players dropped are goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa, midfielder Umar Lutalo and forward Milton Karisa.

The squad comprises mainly local players who seem to be preparing for the CHAN Tournament that will be played later in the year.

Uganda continues to build a side that will represent the country for a longer term in search of our lost glory.

Travelling Squad

Goalkeepers: Hannington Ssebwalunyo (Maroons FC) and Tom Ikara (BUL FC).

Defenders: Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa), Gavin Kizito Mugweri (SC Villa), Rashid Okocha (NEC FC), Patrick Bayiga (Maroons FC), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC), Livingstone Mulondo (Vipers SC), Nicholas Mweere (BUL FC), Hudu Mulikyi (URA FC).

Midfielders: Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), Ashiraf Mugume (KCCA FC), Bright Anukani (Vipers SC), Ramz Kawooya (Express FC), Laban Tibiita (URA FC), Allan Oyirwoth (MYDA FC).

Forwards: Nelson Senkatuka (Soltilo Bright Stars FC), Alex Kitatta (BUL FC), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC), Usama Arafat Kiza (KCCA FC), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC).