FUFA identifies 20 heritage players eligible to represent Uganda

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has identified 20 heritage players who are eligible to represent the Uganda Cranes as part of a wider strategy to strengthen the national team.

FUFA says the initiative is designed to broaden the pool of players available to the national side by identifying professionals of Ugandan heritage who were born, raised or developed their careers outside the country.

More than 200 potentially eligible professional players have been identified across different parts of the world, with 20 subsequently shortlisted as potential additions to the Uganda Cranes.

Nine of those players have already joined the squad in Kampala as Uganda prepare for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and forthcoming international friendly matches against DR Congo.

The new faces have been drawn from clubs across Europe and North America, with players currently based in Belgium, Malta, Poland, Switzerland, the United States, England, Austria and Sweden.

Among the players identified are Noble Okello, Nathan Asiimwe, Abdoulaye Sissako, Akpan David Udoh and Kelvin Owusu Boateng.

The move forms part of a three-part strategy unveiled by FUFA to improve the competitiveness and depth of Ugandan football.

Alongside the heritage-player programme, the federation plans to strengthen domestic club competitions and establish more structured youth academy systems.

FUFA believes the three areas can work together to create a broader pathway for talent development while giving the national team access to players developed in stronger football environments abroad.

The immediate focus, however, is on integrating the newly identified heritage players into the Uganda Cranes setup.

Their arrival comes as Uganda prepare for the next phase of their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team also scheduled to face DR Congo in friendly matches.

The inclusion of players from clubs in eight different countries gives head coach and the national team technical staff an opportunity to assess a wider range of talent as they build towards future international competitions.

FUFA’s identification process also reflects a growing trend among African football associations of searching globally for players with qualifying heritage while continuing to develop talent domestically.

For Uganda, the federation’s stated objective is to combine the experience and development gained by eligible players abroad with investment in local competitions and youth development.

With 20 players shortlisted and nine already involved with the squad, FUFA’s heritage initiative could provide the Uganda Cranes with a significantly expanded player pool in the coming months.

The federation will now look to assess the new arrivals alongside the existing squad as Uganda continue preparations for their AFCON 2027 qualification campaign and other international fixtures.