Ugandan players will be at the heart of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, with several Crested Cranes internationals set to compete for regional supremacy in Rwanda.
The tournament, scheduled for August 21–31, will bring together the leading women’s clubs from across the CECAFA region, with the eventual winner earning the zone’s ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
Uganda’s direct representation will come through Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, who qualified after winning the 2025/26 Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League.
The Valley Warriors finished the campaign with 52 points, one ahead of She Corporate FC, to claim their sixth league title and secure the opportunity to represent Uganda on the regional stage.
Kawempe will compete in Group B alongside Ethiopian champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Djibouti’s FC UJECO.
The Valley Warriors will be making another appearance at the regional stage, having previously represented Uganda in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers.
Coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi has already expressed the team’s determination to represent Uganda with pride.
‘We shall prepare well and represent Uganda with pride. We know it will be tough, but we are ready to compete,’ he said after Kawempe secured the league title.
Namuleme takes on a new challenge in Rwanda
Crested Cranes midfielder Zainah Namuleme will also be involved, this time in the colours of Rwanda’s Rayon Sports WFC.
Namuleme recently completed her move from Kenya Police Bullets to Rayon Sports and has joined the Rwandan champions as they prepare for the regional competition.
Rayon Sports are in Group A alongside Yei Joint Stars of South Sudan, Mafunzo SC of Zanzibar and Eritrea’s Denden FC.
The move gives Namuleme an opportunity to feature in the competition for a different club after helping Kenya Police Bullets to the Kenyan league title last season.
Aluka and Nakacwa with Yei Joint Stars
South Sudanese side Yei Joint Stars will also have Ugandan representation, with Grace Aluka and Spencer Nakacwa set to feature for the club.
Their presence adds another Ugandan dimension to Group A, where Yei Joint Stars will come up against Namuleme’s Rayon Sports.
The duo will be looking to contribute to Yei Joint Stars campaign as the South Sudanese side seeks to make an impact against some of the region’s leading clubs.
Aturo and Nandede at Simba Queens
Tanzania’s Simba Queens will also have a Ugandan presence through goalkeeper Ruth Aturo and forward Zainah Nandede.
Both players have previous experience in the regional Champions League qualifiers, with Aturo having featured for Vihiga Queens while Nandede represented Kampala Queens before moving to Tanzania.
Simba Queens, who won the Tanzanian title, have been drawn in Group C alongside Kenya Police Bullets and Burundi’s Top Girls Academy.
For Nandede, the tournament offers another opportunity to compete at a level where she has previously made an impact for club and country.
Three Ugandans with Kenya Police Bullets
Kenya Police Bullets will also carry a Ugandan contingent into the competition.
Margaret Kunihira, goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro and defender Desire Katisi Natooro will be among the Ugandans involved with the Kenyan champions.
Kunihira enjoyed an outstanding campaign, finishing as the league’s Golden Boot winner and Most Valuable Player after scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists.
Nakaziro provides experience between the posts, while Katisi, Kisakye and Nandago add further options to the Police Bullets squad.
Police Bullets have been drawn in Group C alongside Simba Queens and Top Girls Academy, setting up a particularly interesting group for Ugandan football followers given the number of Ugandan players on both sides.
Uganda’s footprint extends beyond Kawempe
The 2026 CECAFA qualifiers therefore offer a strong representation of Ugandan talent across the region.
While Kawempe Muslim Ladies carry Uganda’s flag as the country’s representatives, Ugandan internationals will also be seeking continental success with clubs from Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Kenya which highlights the growing presence of Ugandan women footballers across competitive leagues in the region.
The 2026 CECAFA qualifiers will be staged in Kigali, with matches scheduled at Kigali Pele Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Centre.
