St Mary’s Kitende beat Prosper Soccer Academy 1-0 to win the inaugural FUFA Academies League final at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.
Alex Ssekyanzi sealed the win with a close-range finish in the second half, bringing the trophy to the Buganda Region leaders. The victory completed a campaign for Kitende and gave the new competition its first champion.
The Kawowo Sports match report states that Kitende and Prosper reached the final after topping their respective regional competitions. Kitende led the Buganda table with 57 points, while Prosper finished first in Kampala with 51.
Ssekyanzi delivers the decisive moment
Prosper could not find an equaliser, leaving Kitende to protect the narrow advantage and make history. The 1-0 result reflected the competitive nature of a final between two teams that had already demonstrated consistency across the regional phase.
How Kitende and Prosper reached the final
The inaugural competition operated as a pilot in the Kampala and Buganda regions. Rather than declaring one regional table winner as national champion, the two leaders met in a deciding final.
Kitende accumulated 57 points to finish top of the Buganda Region, six more than Prosper’s 51-point total in Kampala. The totals came from separate regional competitions and should therefore be read as evidence of each team’s consistency, not as a direct league-table comparison.
Prosper’s defeat should not erase a strong campaign. Winning the Kampala group and reaching the inaugural final established the academy among the pilot’s leading sides.
FUFA Academies League award winners
The tournament recognised performances beyond the champions. Ssekyanzi took the MVP award, while Prosper goalkeeper Swaleh Maganda was named the competition’s best goalkeeper.
El Cambio Academy’s Angello Samumba won the top-scorer award, and Watoto Soccer Academy received the fair-play accolade.
| Award | Winner | Academy |
| Champions | St Mary’s Kitende | St Mary’s Kitende Soccer Academy |
| Most Valuable Player | Alex Ssekyanzi | St Mary’s Kitende |
| Best goalkeeper | Swaleh Maganda | Prosper Soccer Academy |
| Top scorer | Angello Samumba | El Cambio Academy |
| Fair play | Team award | Watoto Soccer Academy |
Why the league matters for Uganda’s football pathway
The official FUFA pilot circular said the competition was created for eligible Grade 2 and Grade 3 academies in Kampala and Buganda. Its objectives included regular competitive exposure, better talent identification, improved coaching capacity and more consistent academy standards.
FUFA planned ten academies in each region, playing two rounds at communicated central venues. Participating academies could register up to 25 players born in 2011 or 2012. The registration requirements included parental consent, parent or guardian identification, and an authentic birth certificate or national identification document for age verification.
Regular matches, qualified coaching, accurate records, and safeguarding can improve player welfare while giving scouts and national coaches a clearer basis for monitoring progress.
Uganda has seen the value of clear development pathways through players such as Allan Okello, who progressed from KCCA’s youth system into senior club and Uganda Cranes football. Academy competition cannot guarantee a professional career, but it can give talent a fairer opportunity to be identified and tested.
Expansion must protect quality
Kawowo reported that the FUFA Academies League is expected to expand into other FUFA regions next season. Wider coverage would give more young players access to organised competition and reduce the sense that elite development is concentrated around Kampala.
Expansion, however, should not come at the expense of coaching standards, player welfare, medical support or reliable fixtures. The withdrawal of Uganda Kobs from the 2027 U23 AFCON qualifiers also showed why strong youth pathways require sustained funding and competitive opportunities at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the inaugural FUFA Academies League?
St Mary’s Kitende Soccer Academy became the inaugural champion after beating Prosper Soccer Academy 1-0 in the final.
Who scored the winning goal?
Alex Ssekyanzi scored from close range during the second half. He was also named the competition’s Most Valuable Player.
Where was the final played?
The final was played at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.
Which regions participated in the pilot season?
The inaugural pilot involved eligible academies from the Kampala and Buganda regions.
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Conclusion
St Mary’s Kitende earned their place in Ugandan youth-football history through Ssekyanzi’s goal and a campaign that placed them top of Buganda before the national decider.
Prosper’s strong Kampala campaign and the individual awards earned by players from several academies also underline the competition’s wider value. The next challenge is to turn a successful pilot into a reliable national pathway with consistent matches, proper safeguards and opportunities for players across Uganda.
