AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Uganda Cranes Secure 2nd Victory
Uganda Cranes secured their second victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a 1-0 win over South Sudan at the Mandela National Stadium on Friday.
Defender Bevis Mugabi’s early second-half goal was enough to earn the Cranes all three points in front of a packed crowd.
The win helped the cranes to get the first advantage of this double header fixture before heading to Juba for the return leg on October 15.
Uganda Crane’s player Rogers Mato had earlier made it clear that they are eyeing not just a win at home but also another maximum result away. The win moves Uganda to seven points, same points with South Africa.
The first half of the match saw little action, as both teams struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities. Uganda’s Rogers Mato had a few attempts, but his efforts went off-target, leaving the teams deadlocked at 0-0 by halftime.
Uganda made key tactical adjustments at the start of the second half, with Allan Okello and Bobosi Byaruhanga coming on to replace Travis Mutyaba and SC Villa’s Ronald Sekiganda.
The changes reshaped Uganda’s attack, with Jude Ssemugabi moving to center forward and Denis Omedi shifting to the right wing, while Okello took up the role of playmaker.
These changes paid off almost immediately. In the first minute of the second half, Mugabi capitalized on a rebound from Ssemugabi’s header, which had been saved by the South Sudanese goalkeeper, to nod the ball into the net, giving Uganda the lead.
Ssemugabi nearly doubled Uganda’s advantage in the 58th minute, but his shot was blocked by the South Sudan goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Omedi also had a chance to extend the lead, but his shot from the right wing was saved as well.
In his post-match remarks, South Sudan’s coach praised his team’s fighting spirit, despite the defeat.
On the other hand, Uganda’s coach Put expressed dissatisfaction with the first-half performance, citing the team’s late arrival at the stadium as a potential cause. However, he was pleased with their improvement in the second half.
“I was disappointed in the 45 minutes with the way we played, I can’t tell, I don’t know whether it’s because we came late to the pitch,” he said.
“The second half there was much drive, commitment and we played better. Now we have to put our focus on the return leg,” the return leg will be a tough one and I have already told the players, because even the field might be smaller than this,” he added.
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum