Kawempe’s Historic Charge: Unbeaten CECAFA Champions Become Uganda’s First CAF Women’s Champions League Finalists

Kawempe Muslim Ladies have etched their name into the history of Ugandan women’s football after becoming the first club from the country to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. The Valley Warriors achieved the landmark feat in Rwanda, where they defeated Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in a fiercely contested CECAFA Women’s Club Championship final to claim the regional crown and secure a place on Africa’s biggest women’s club football stage.

The achievement brings to an end a remarkable campaign in which Kawempe Muslim demonstrated consistency, resilience and quality from the opening match to the final whistle. The record Ugandan champions won all four of their matches, scored 13 goals and remarkably did not concede a single goal, producing a perfect defensive record while displaying enough attacking quality to emerge as the region’s finest side.

The final against Kenya Police Bullets was a test of patience and mental strength. Both teams battled through 90 minutes without finding a breakthrough, with the contest remaining finely balanced as extra time approached. Kawempe Muslim, however, maintained their composure and continued to search for the decisive moment, which eventually arrived when skipper Agnes Nabukenya found the all-important goal in extra time to settle the contest and deliver a historic championship victory.

𝗔 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆

Kawempe Muslim’s championship triumph was built on an extraordinary level of consistency. The Valley Warriors did not drop a point throughout the competition, winning every match they played while combining a potent attack with a defence that remained unbeaten from start to finish.

Their campaign began with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE FC), a result that provided a strong foundation for the Ugandan champions. They then produced one of the tournament’s most emphatic performances, dismantling FC Ujeco of Djibouti 8-0 in a commanding display that highlighted the depth and quality within the squad.

The semi-final brought another meeting with CBE FC, but Kawempe Muslim again proved too strong for the Ethiopian side. The Valley Warriors produced a mature and commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory, booking their place in the final while maintaining their remarkable record of not conceding a goal.

Victory over Kenya Police Bullets in the final completed a campaign that will go down as one of the most significant achievements in the history of Ugandan women’s club football. Kawempe Muslim became the first Ugandan side to win the CECAFA Women’s Club Championship and, more importantly, the first Ugandan women’s club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

One of the defining features of Kawempe Muslim’s campaign was the extraordinary strength of their defence. Four matches without conceding a goal is a statistic that speaks volumes about the organisation, concentration and collective commitment within the team.

At the centre of that defensive excellence were centre-backs Hadijah Babirye and Sharifa Nakimera. The pair formed a commanding partnership in the heart of the backline, combining physical strength, composure and intelligent reading of the game to keep opposition forwards under control.

On the left side, Asia Nakibuuka provided defensive discipline and energy, while Samalie Nakacwa brought similar qualities to the right-back position. Their performances ensured that Kawempe Muslim maintained a well-balanced defensive structure while also providing width and support when the team moved forward.

In front of the back four, defensive midfielder Krusum Namutebi played an equally important role. Her ability to protect the defence, disrupt opposition attacks and help maintain the team’s shape provided an essential link between midfield and the backline.

Behind them all stood goalkeeper Saida Namwanje, who produced a composed and assured tournament between the posts. Her contribution to Kawempe Muslim’s remarkable clean-sheet record earned her the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award, providing individual recognition for a player who played a key role in the team’s defensive success.

𝗡𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

When the championship final reached its most demanding stage, Kawempe Muslim’s skipper Agnes Nabukenya stepped forward. With the score still locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, the captain found the breakthrough in extra time, producing the moment that ultimately separated the two sides.

Nabukenya’s goal was the culmination of a tournament in which she provided leadership and quality at crucial moments. As captain, she carried the responsibility of leading a team pursuing a historic objective, and her decisive contribution in the final ensured that Kawempe Muslim’s campaign ended with both the trophy and continental qualification.

Her influence throughout the tournament was recognised with the Most Valuable Player award. It was a fitting honour for a captain who not only led her team to regional glory but also delivered the goal that secured one of the biggest victories in Ugandan women’s club football.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Kawempe Muslim’s defensive strength was complemented by an attack that consistently carried a threat. Latifa Nakasi, Cecilia Apiding and Jovia Nakagolo were among the attacking players who brought pace, movement, creativity and purpose to the Valley Warriors’ forward play.

Their contribution was particularly important during the team’s biggest victories, as Kawempe Muslim repeatedly found ways to unsettle opposition defences and create scoring opportunities. The 8-0 victory over FC Ujeco and the 3-0 semi-final win against CBE FC demonstrated the attacking quality available within the squad.

The balance between the attacking and defensive departments proved decisive. While the backline ensured opponents could not find a way through, the forwards and attacking players provided the goals required to turn strong performances into victories.

𝗔 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀

Kawempe Muslim’s dominance was reflected in the tournament’s individual awards. Nabukenya was named Most Valuable Player after a series of influential performances, while Namwanje was recognised as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament following her outstanding contribution between the posts.

The remaining honours went to players and teams that also enjoyed strong campaigns. CBE FC forward Emush Dandamo finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, while Yei Joint Stars of South Sudan received the Fair Play Award.

CBE FC secured third place after defeating Yei Joint Stars 5-1 in the third-place playoff, bringing the tournament to a conclusion after a highly competitive regional championship.

𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮

Kawempe Muslim’s qualification is a landmark moment not only for the club but also for Uganda’s women’s football. For the first time, a Ugandan women’s club has secured a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament, giving the country an opportunity to compete on the continent’s biggest women’s club stage.

The achievement also represents an important milestone in the development of Kawempe Muslim Ladies. The club has established itself as a leading force in Ugandan women’s football, and this regional triumph provides further evidence of its ability to produce a team capable of competing beyond the domestic scene.

For the players, the continental finals will offer an opportunity to measure themselves against some of Africa’s strongest women’s clubs. It will also provide valuable exposure for Ugandan players and demonstrate the depth of talent available within the country’s women’s game.

𝗞𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗙𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁

The CECAFA region has previously been represented at the CAF Women’s Champions League by Vihiga Queens of Kenya in 2021, Simba Queens of Tanzania in 2022, JKT Queens of Tanzania in 2023, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in 2024 and JKT Queens again in 2025.

Kawempe Muslim now joins that distinguished list, carrying a unique distinction as the first Ugandan club to qualify for the continental finals. Their achievement also adds Uganda to a growing list of CECAFA nations that have produced clubs capable of competing at the highest level of African women’s club football.

CAF is yet to announce the host of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. Kawempe Muslim will now await the official details before turning their attention towards preparations for what promises to be the biggest challenge in the club’s history.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

The Valley Warriors leave Rwanda with the CECAFA trophy, an unbeaten defensive record and, most importantly, a historic place at the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.

The achievement is the product of a complete team effort. From Namwanje’s assurance in goal to the defensive leadership of Babirye and Nakimera, the energy of Nakibuuka and Nakacwa, Namutebi’s protection in midfield, the attacking contributions of Nakasi, Apiding and Nakagolo, and the leadership and decisive finishing of skipper Nabukenya, Kawempe Muslim had quality across the pitch.

Four matches produced four victories, 13 goals and zero conceded. The numbers are impressive, but the significance of the achievement goes much deeper. Kawempe Muslim have broken new ground for Uganda and created a historic pathway from the CECAFA stage to Africa’s biggest women’s club competition.

The Valley Warriors have claimed the regional crown.

They have secured Uganda’s first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League final qualification.

And now, for Kawempe Muslim Ladies, the next challenge is continental.