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Tekkwo, Yayo and Senkoomi out – URA confirm status for unwanted players

Lutimba, Ssenkoomi and Tekkwo are all set to feature on loan for Express FC in the 2016-17 season

What is it with Express Football Club and discarded former Uganda Revenue Authority FC players?

We are talking about the today’s confirmation by the tax collectors that their two midfielders Tekkwo Derrick and Yayo Lutimba plus defender Senkoomi Samuel have been sent on a one year loan ending 30th June 2017 to Express.

This development came after an hour meeting between Express officials lead by Vice Chairman Administration Serunjogi Erias and URA club Chairman Mr. Ali Ssekatawa this morning in Nakawa.

After the said players put pen-to-paper on one-year deals, Ssekatawa immediately told them not not play against URA during the loan period.

It was also agreed that URA FC also holds the commercial rights of the said players during the loan period.

Express is yet to agree personal terms with the players. The six-time champions face Proline today at Lugogo, kickoff 4pm.

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Getting the groove on at the Jinja Nyege Nyege festival

Performances at the Nyege Nyege Festival

There is a growing trend in the events section right now, a sort of ripple effect that keeps people busy almost every weekend with a festival here and there.

Over the past few months, there have been festivals ranging from food related, fashion and music. You will not fail to find one that fits in your niche for weekend related plans.

The Nyege Nyege festival is however different from the rest and this is not just about the name; the festival itself is about blending a fusion of several different artists, people and art into one colorful and beautiful show that lasts three days.

Nyege Nyege can be loosely translated to “The feeling of a sudden uncontrollable urge to move, shake or dance.”

The festival is organized and curated by the Boutiq Foundation, a community based organization in Kampala Uganda, that aims to develop the local arts and culture industry by creating platforms and opportunities for upcoming artists. The festival also aims to connect underground musicians from around the continent with one another and with producers and musicians working with African music outside the continent. This helps bring diversity to what most Ugandans rarely see in other festivals, experience and feel rhythms and tunes from Europe, USA, West, South and North of Africa; whilst listening to hidden gems of the East.

Last year, the festival was held with a throng of thousands showing up to not only enjoy the music that was being showcased but at the same time, discovering different forms of art from the artists that had gathered in Jinja.

The setting for this year’s Nyege Nyege festival is not going to be any different from 2015. Right on the lush banks of the Nile in the gardens of the Nile Discovery Beach hotel, a little distance from Jinja town and partnering with Jumia Travel gives most of the revellers discounted prices for their hotel bookings in Jinja throughout the festivals. A number of acts from countries such as the Kenyan and Ugandan underground scene with performances from Blinky Bill, The Dons, EA Wave, Lady Slyke, Albert Ssempeke, Otim Alpha, Tetuni Shani, Yellow Light Machine, Cosmic Homies, Kaya Collective and Shoeshine Bwoy, Blessed San, Undercover brothers and Lawrence Okello. Many acclaimed international artists renowned for their work with African sounds will also be joining the lineup including Tropical Bass pioneer Daniel Haaksman from Germany, Dub Morphology from the UK, DJ Zhao from China, Tropikal Camel from Israel, Schlachthofbronx also from Germany and the legendary MC Zulu will grace the two fully decked stages with state of the art sound systems.

Arlen Dilsizian, one of the organisers says, “In Luganda, Nyege Nyege means ‘irresistible urge to dance’. The idea of the festival came up because we felt that existing festivals in the region were not paying enough attention to new exciting genres of music that were emerging from across the continent, like Kwaito, Balani, Kuduros, coupe decale as well as to recent trends to fuse African sounds with European dance aesthetics.” According to Arlene, whilst there were many urban festivals in the region, what was missing was a festival in Nature where music lovers get away and let loose for 3 days of music, art and culture in an intimate setting. The festival is also a chance for different producers from different parts of Africa and Europe to meet, interact and collaborate.

“We find it crazy that legends of African music like Mamman Sani, the godfather of Electronic music in this continent have in their 30 years’ career played all over the world but not in another African country other than his native Niger,” she adds, noting that the same can be said for young Balani star Luka Productions and afro-futurist Ibaaku from Senegal. They are all playing at this year’s festival.”

The festival happening from the 2nd to 4th of September will also feature a daily screening program of films and documentaries about music, art installations, food from some of the best restaurants in Kampala at great prices and a kitenge corner where tailors will modify people’s clothes. A fun packed weekend for 120,000 UGX and you can buy your tickets on Jumia.

Evelyn Masaba is the Public Relations Manager at Jumia Travel Uganda an online hotel booking service with offices in Kampala (Uganda) Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya) and Dakar (Senegal)

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2016 Kwita Izina commemoration beckons

Nineteen baby gorillas will be named this year at a ceremony on September 2 at the Volcanoes National Park, the oldest having been born just after last year’s ceremony, and among them a set of twins.

Now in its 12th year, Kwita Izina, a uniquely Rwandan event, is not only a celebration of newly born mountain gorilla babies, but also serves to raise awareness of the importance of the protection of species and their habitats at community, national, regional and international levels.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is home to an estimated two-thirds of the Virunga Massif population of 500 mountain gorillas, which spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. An additional 400 mountain gorillas live in the forested “island” of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

Last year’s Kwita Izina saw almost 500 international and 20,000 Rwandan attendees.

These activities, which will take place from August 27 to September 2, include the naming Ceremony, a ‘Conversation on Conservation’ Conference, a Conservation and Tourism exhibition, community project launches, a fundraising gala dinner and unique to only this event; Kwita Izina Scientific tours.

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Ugandan ADF rebels tried in DR Congo over massacre

Four Ugandan nationals were among the six suspected members of a Ugandan rebel group, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who the DR Congo government has opened case against suspected perpetrators of Beni massacre

The North Kivu military court over the weekend unwrapped a case against six suspected members of a Ugandan rebel group, accused of carrying out the recent massacre of civilians in Beni, eastern DRC.

The suspected members of the ADF, were equally being sought by the military for participating in an insurgency and committing crimes against humanity through killings, terrorism, rape and looting.

The suspects include Ugandans Sempela Muswabo Toyota, Jackson Muhindo Kababo, Saka Muhindo Kitswamba and Jean-Baptiste Kasereka as well as one Tanzanian Kaiyagi Djuma, Congolese Kasereka Djuma.

During their identification, suspect Muswabo is said to have been recruited in Uganda and enrolled in ADF about five months ago. He was charged with mounting and dismantling weapons for this Ugandan rebel group.

On the request of lawyers of the suspects, the North Kivu military court postponed the hearing of the cases to Monday. They said they had made the request to prepare for the defense of their clients.

The case began just a week after suspected members of ADF massacred about 50 civilians in Beni town.

Immediately after the massacre by these rebels in Beni, DR Congo President Joseph Kabila termed the attack as “pure terrorism” and urged DR Congo’s partners across the world to help end the ongoing terrorism in the east of the country.

The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have accused ADF rebel group of killing over 600 people in Beni territory, North Kivu province, since October 2014.

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Uganda hosts top Africa ICT meet

Gender, Labour Minister Frank Tumwebaze.

Uganda is hosting the 7th African Summit on Free and Open Source (FOSS) and the ‘Digital Commons’ (IDLELO) conference at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo.

The Conference that began on August 22 is organized under the auspices of the Free Software and Open Source Foundation Africa (FOSSFA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Information, ICT and Communications under Minister Frank Tumwebaze and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) under James Saaka.

The main objectives of the summit include appraisal of Government Policy support of FOSS and Local Digital Content development, and promote the integration and adoption of FOSS and Local Digital Content in National Policies for countries in Africa, and to share experiences from other countries on how to promote, utilize and sustain the use of FOSS and Development of Local Digital Content in the country.

The conference comes in the wake of the President Yoweri Museveni’s recent visit to the US, where he made a commitment to evaluate the proposal that Uganda like her neighbours, consider using the cheaper yet equally efficient Open Source Software as an alternative to using Proprietary Software which is far too expensive. As a follow up, the President directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up implementation of the commitment with the responsible Ministry.

‘The Government Uganda through the Permanent Secretaries Forum in 2013 decried the huge expenditure on licenses government spends on propriety software and their negative impact towards the implementation of the Information Technology (IT) Services Rationalization Strategy and subsequent roll out of e-government services

The Ministry of ICT was subsequently directed to analyse the situation and come up with informed recommendations for expediting of use of free open Source Software (FOSS) as an alternative to propriety software,’ a statement from the foreign affairs ministry reads in part.

According to the release, the Ministry of ICT developed a draft Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Policy and Strategy that is pending presentation and approval by Cabinet. Some of the constituent strategies in the FOSS Policy and strategy include collaboration and partnerships in regard to FOSS Initialization and sustenance of awareness, education and training to build Competitive FOSS Capacity, and to promote FOSS usage in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In March 2015 the Secretary General of COMESA issued a communique on Open Source Guidelines adopted at the Eighth Meeting of the Ministers of Infrastructure responsible for Transport, Communications, Information Technology and Energy held in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti in October, 2014 adopted the guidelines on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

The earlier IDLELO summits were held in Nairobi (2014), Abuja (2012), Accra (2010) and Dakar (2008) and Johannesburg (2006).

The conference is being attended by officials from Office of the President – Uganda, Prime Minister’s Office – Uganda, Government Delegates and Innovators from African Countries, COMESA Secretariat, Lead MDAs for the development of FOSS and Digital Content in Uganda Government, Policy Makers in MDAs/LGS – Uganda.

Others are Government MDAs – beneficiaries of FOSS Solutions and Digital Content, Private Sector – beneficiaries of FOSS Solutions and Digital Content; Local Innovators and Digital Content Developers and Researchers and Academia.

 

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Amuru-Adjumani border wars resume, Police on alert

The Uganda Police Force says it is currently monitoring the security situation in Apaa on the borderline between Amuru and Adjumani districts, where violence and resistance have resurfaced over who owns the disputed land.

According to reports, the Joint Security team in Adjumani has intensified security operations so as to avoid a security breach.

People in the two districts have for years been at loggerheads with those in Amuru claiming that its border is at Zoka River while those in Adjumani claim its border is at Apaa Junction.

Outgoing police deputy spokesperson Polly Namaye on Monday said this land and border dispute poses a considerable threat to post conflict recovery and local development. According to Ms Namaye, it underscores that the changing land conflict dynamics may have critical impact on the Peace Recovery Development Plan (PRDP).

In 2015, the government forcefully demarcated the contentious boundary, leaving in its wake teargas, injuries, broken limbs and mark stones. Then, women from Apaa undressed before ministers Aronda Nyakairima (RIP) and Daudi Migereko, to protest a planned demarcation of the border.

However, the border conflict has persisted despite the boundary re-demarcation that put the Apaa area under the management of Adjumani District.

For instance, on 13th Aug 2016, the local community in Apaa clashed with leaders of Adjumani District led by the District Chairperson, Mr Leku James Pili, who had gone to assess illegal timber cutting in the area.

The border was mapped using a Global Positioning System (GPS); a space-based satellite navigation system that enables the identification of the original boundary between the two districts before putting a mark stone.

But in opposition, Amuru locals argue that they don’t know what the government wants in Apaa, because the British demarcated the border in 1962 and they know their boundary thus there is no conflict between them and Madi with whom they usually intermarry.

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Kenya to withdraw troops from Somalia in 2018

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stands with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta before a bilateral meeting, at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, August 22, 2016.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will withdraw its troops from Somalia in 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced.

The announcement, made five years after Kenya first deployed soldiers to battle al-Shabaab in Somalia, was made through Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Nairobi yesterday to hold talks with foreign affairs ministers in the region on the situation in South Sudan.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) talks to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta during their bilateral talks as other officials from Kenya and the U.S. listen., at the State House in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Aug. 22, 2016.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) talks to Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta during their bilateral talks as other officials from Kenya and the U.S. listen., at the State House in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Aug. 22, 2016.

“Somalia is now experiencing improved security after being ravaged by civil war for more than two decades and for this, Kenya will withdraw its troops,” Uhuru was quoted as saying early today.

KDF soldiers have been part of the African Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops sent into the horn of Africa nation to bring peace as well as fight the al-Shabaab militant group.

Kenya deployed her troops to Somalia in October 2011 under the Operation Linda Nchi following a spate of kidnappings and attacks by al-Shabaab on Kenyan soil.

Kenya becomes the second Amisom troop-contributing country to announce the withdrawal of her troops from the war-ravaged Horn of Africa country.

In June this year Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Edward Katumba Wamala said the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) would withdraw her troops from Somalia by December next year.

Uganda, which provides the biggest contingent to Amisom, first deployed in Somalia in March 2007.

Meanwhile, Somalia is scheduled to elect a new president next month that will be conducted among lawmakers because the electoral commission in the country does not have the capacity to conduct a nationwide vote.

 

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Proline face tricky first test in Lugogo return as UPL resumes

Proline boss Mujib Kasule

After a busy close season in the transfer market, freshly promoted Proline FC kick off their bid for a new lease of Uganda Premiership life at the Philip Omondi Stadium on Tuesday evening by entertaining Express FC.

The visit of Alex Gitta’s squad, third last season, will provide a tricky first examination for a Proline side that has seen change aplenty in the close season since winning the Fufa Big League.

Owner cum head coach Mujib Kasule knows his side will have a tough time breaking into a Red Eagles back three comprised of three of the Uganda’s most admired defenders, Kazibwe Ismael, Kasozi Bob, Matovu Farooque and Sam Ssenkoomi.

But he insists that is partly what Proline’s new season is about.

“There are great expectations. Apparently people are discounting our abilities but it is never that easy,” he said.

On the opposing side, former KCCA striker, Herman Wasswa, does not face his former side but comes back to the Lugogo ground that has been his home until he was let go during the offseason.

He has since joined Express, and he could not have started his Red Eagles career in a finer way. Wasswa netted a double as the Red Eagles saw off stubborn Lweza 2-1 in their opening match and will be intent on conjuring up some run. He made his season mission clear after that victory over Lweza.

“I want to be the league top scorer this season to show my former club (KCCA) what they missed in sending me away,” he said.

Proline will have taken heed. Yet, Express themselves cannot allow complacency to creep in. The Red Eagles come up against Proline talisman Edris Lubega, who helped the side back up. Gitta’s Express also know too well how hard it is to beat units set up by Mujib Kasule.

Bright Stars vs Onduparaka (Live on Azam TV @ 4pm in CS – Matugga)

Having lost a big chuck of his stars including Mathias Kigonya (Sofapaka), Jimmy Lule (URA), Anthony Bongole (Police), Bernard Muwanga, and Joseph Nsubuga (all SC Villa) among others, Bright Stars coach Fred Kajoba will have counted the point against Vipers last Friday. The Cranes goalkeeping coach has only Nicholas Ssebwato (SC Villa) and Andrew Kaggwa (Saints) as the noticeable signings but Bright Stars were not far from upsetting Abdallah Mubiru’s Vipers at Nakivubo. On Tuesday, the Stars host formidable Onduparaka counting on their decent home record. That it is their first home game will give them great encouragement to get out of the blocks. Kajoba will hope Fred Ssegujja, scorer in Bright Stars 1-1 draw with Vipers, displays the same form against Onduparaka. Yet in coach Leo Adraa’s Onduparaka they face a resilient force. The Northern Uganda side drew goalless their opener with Soana.

JMC Hippos vs Kirinya-Jinja SS – Kakindu Stadium, Jinja (4:30pm)

This Jinja derby is expected to fill Kakindu Stadium with frenzied fans. James Odoch’s JMC will be looking to pick their first point following a 2-1 opening day defeat to KCCA while Alex Isabirye’s Kirinya-Jinja SS will want to build onto their priceless point after their goalless draw with four-time league champions, URA, last Friday. Odoch will hope Vianney Ssekajugo, scorer of their sole goal against KCCA, is back to the fore while Isabirye is desperate for his strikers to get it started.

Lweza vs KCCA– Wankulukuku Stadium

This fixture has Geoffrey Sserunkuma, the KCCA striker, written all over it. The Ugandan international returns to Wankulukuku with no encouraging words for Lweza, the club he left during the offseason for KCCA. Fresh from heading in KCCA’s winner in the 2-1 victory over JMC at Lugogo last Friday, Sserunkuma is determined to add to his goal tally when his side tackle his former employers. “Scoring in my first league game, that is always good for any striker’s confidence,” said Sserunkuma after opening his account, “But we have more work to do against Lweza. I’m now in a club with title ambitions. I want to try and score in every game.” Asked about his feelings on facing his former side, Sserunkuma said, via his club website. “We will be friends off the field but become enemies on the pitch.” KCCA creative architect, Muzamir Mutyaba, missed the previous game through injury but returns for manager Mike Mutebi’s outfit. He is likely to replace Paul Mucureezi behind a three-man attack of Sserunkuma, Vincent Kayizzi and Brian Majwega. But KCCA defence will have to be awake in the face of Karim Ndugwa, the former Villa player, who also opened his scoring account against Express.

Soana vs The Saints– Kavumba R. Grounds

The two will both have been happy scampering out of their openers with a point. Soana drew goalless away to Onduparaka while Sadolin Paints posted the same result at the Saints. The impetus for Soana is in the new coach Sam Ssimbwa. The former KCCA coach was handed the reins to replace Charles Ayiekoh, who threw in the towel over a week ago, citing infringement from the club boss. Ssimbwa, who has just completed serving his eight-month ban for conducting himself in what Fufa described as “an unethical manner and uttering statements that jeopardized the authenticity of results and integrity of matches,” will take charge of his first match as Soana coach.

 Sadolin Paints vs SC Villa – Bugembe Stadium, Jinja

SC Villa’s scoring woes from last season again manifested in the goalless draw away to Police. They travel to Sadolin Paints, another side looking for their first victory following aq 0-0 draw at the Saints. Mike Sserumaga, who missed a penalty against Police, will again be the man tasked by Villa coach Deo Sserwadda to make things happen for the record 16-time league champions.

Vipers SC vs Police FC – Nakivubo Stadium

New signing Ibrahim Kayiwa leapt highest to head home left-back Dan Bilikwalira’s cross on 61 minutes for an equalizer and to save Vipers and coach Mubiru blushes. Mubiru will hope for more positivity as he takes charge of his second game as Vipers coach when they host Police at Nakivubo. Mubiru will also hope striker Tony Odur is in his groove against a Police side that beat Vipers 3-1 last season. Odur, who is making a second stint at Vipers, and Brian Kakaire will make their debuts for the club having missed the opener against Bright Stars.

URA vs Bul– Mehta Stadium, Lugazi

Kefa Kisala and his URA side started on a deceptive note, drawing goalless with league newcomers Kirinya-SS. They face another side that posted the same result at home to Proline. It will be a fight to pick the first league win for either side and that alone makes for nice viewing.

@UPL

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Journalist in panic as he is named ‘TVO’

Mr.Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

Former New Vision senior journalist, Fortunate Ahimbisibwe was yesterday thrown into panic mode after a social media post on Facebook claimed he was the most hunted Tom Voltaire Okwalinga aka TVO.

A Facebook post from a one, Amani Ivan claimed that he had information from some circles that the former journalist is Uganda’s online most wanted man.

The facebook message reads: “Hey ma brother Fortunate Ahimbisibwe, last evening in my usual kafunda I overheard a group of ‘Banyabuzaare’ argue and allege that u are the most wanted ‪#‎TVO. So Fortunate Batinti Ahimbisibwe how do u plead? Should I go for the bounty? If u are, then I salute u for your brilliance. If u are not, take it that there are some Ugandans who respect your intelligence to the level of what TVO is capable of. They spoke with a lot of confidence.‪#‎watch_thy_back.”

But Ahimbisibwe on Sunday rushed to respond to the post denying that he was the man behind exclusive leaks on Government, security and political activities of both NRM and FDC.

“I came out of church and found some malwa talk about me being TVO. Amani Ivan, I am not TVO. I do not have the capacity to do what he does. I find TVO a fascinating character though. I have received some private messages asking me after seeing your post. I didn’t want to honour the kafunda talk with a response but I have to do it,” Ahimbisibwe posted on Facebook.

He added: “whoever is saying this is dressing me up in a goat skin so that the ‘leopards’ can target me. This is hogwash, overzealous agents should look for TVO, catch him and stop engaging in malwa talk,” Ahimbisibwe wrote on his facebook wall in response to some of the comments.

Ahimbisibwe, who is known to have connections with Uganda’s security agencies, is currently undertaking further studies at a top journalism university in the United Kingdom. Sources told us that he is also carrying out some assignments for the State.

Efforts to talk to him were futile and he did not respond to our messages.

However, a source told us that Ahimbisibwe has recently been in touch with The Monitor newspaper for a possible editorial job upon return to the country.

In 2006, Radio Katwe, a defunct online publication, named Ahimbisibwe among the journalists that had links with security agencies who along their journalism work also do security work.

He quit active journalism in 2010 when he left The New Vision to work for a World Bank funded project at The Ministry of Education and Sports as a Communications Specialist until 2015 when he left the country for further studies.

‘Tom Voltaire Okwalinga’

For some years now, Tom Voltaire Okwalinga (also known as TVO) has been posting politically-charged information on his Facebook wall. His claim to know almost everything happening within the ruling establishment circles has earned him a lot of followers on social media.

Some time back, it was revealed that the Uganda government had asked Facebook to close TVO’s account. Facebook reportedly turned down the request, leaving security officers to embark on what has turned out to be a hard and long hunt for TVO.

Local political activists Robert Shaka and Charles Rwomushana have been previously been arrested and charged on suspicion that they were the TVO. Their cases are still pending in court.

The hunt for TVO intensified early this year after he claimed on his Facebook wall that former information Minister Jim Muhwezi had bribed city Lawyer Fred Muwema to sell Mbabazi’s secrets to the state.

Muwema said that a post by TVO on March 17 & 19 under the title ‘Betrayal in the city’ carried gross defamatory and offensive content against his person.

TVO’s Facebook post alleged that Muwema was given Shs900 million by government to compromise the election petition in which former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi was challenging the victory of Yoweri Museveni in February’s elections.

He further claimed that Muwema was the mastermind of his own chambers break-in where a number of documents, computers were reportedly stolen.

TVO still remains at large.

 

 

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Emma Okwi set for Europa League bow against Sparta Prague

Emmanuel Okwi over the weekend started for SønderjyskE. Photo: Ole Nielsen

After a surprise pick by SønderjyskE coach Jakob Michelsen against FC Midtjylland on Sunday, Uganda Cranes striker Emmanuel Okwi is in line for his full European Cup debut.

Okwi who joined the Danish club over a year ago has been dogged by injuries and poor form but is likely to once again fill in for injured first choice forward Tommy Bechmann during the UEFA Europa League First playoff round, Game 2 against Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague on August 25, 2016 at Generali Arena, Prague, kickoff at 9pm East Africa Time.

The former SC Villa and Simba (Tanzania) player if selected will play alongside young Danish footballer Mikael Uhre.

Before Sunday, Okwi had featured for the senior team in only two matches with a total of six minutes of playing time besides banging goals for SønderjyskE’s reserve team.

Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic is also expected to summon Okwi  for international duty in less than a week as Uganda seek to beat Group D opponents Comoros and qualify either automatically or as one of the best second-placed countries for a return to Afcon for the first time since 1978.

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