Morley Byekwaso Gets Support from Former Coach as Uganda Continues Search for New Coach
Former Cranes coach, Abdallah Mubiru, did not apply for the position of Uganda’s national team coach, which is currently under temporary charge by Morley Byekwaso until October 31, 2023, while Fufa continues their search for a permanent coach.
In a recent announcement, Fufa revealed that only two Ugandans out of 245 applicants were being considered to replace the former Cranes coach, Micho Sredojevic. Notably, former KCCA and Cranes coach Mike Mutebi, experienced Sam Ssimbwa, and Mubiru were among the individuals believed to be potential candidates.
While the identities of the two Ugandan applicants remain unconfirmed, it is certain that Mubiru is not one of them. He explained his decision, stating, “I never applied for any position because I believe that coaches are selected based on the employers’ demands. I feel everyone at Fufa knows my ability – my strengths and weaknesses.”
Mubiru had previously served as the Cranes coach on an interim basis twice. His first appointment followed the departure of Sebastien Desabre in 2019, and he was later appointed for the final two Afcon 2021 qualifying games after Johnny McKinstry was asked to step aside. However, on both occasions, another coach was eventually chosen for the permanent position.
Now, Morley Byekwaso has been confirmed as the interim head coach for the Cranes, overseeing their upcoming friendly matches against Mali and Zambia. Byekwaso, assisted by URA’s assistant coach Fred Muhumuza, holds this position until October 31.
It remains unclear whether Byekwaso has applied for the permanent role, but he enjoys strong support from Mubiru. Mubiru expressed his faith in Byekwaso’s abilities, emphasizing that he believes Byekwaso will excel. Byekwaso, currently an assistant coach at SC Villa, previously led Uganda Hippos to the final of the 2021 Afcon U20 in Mauritania, where they were runners-up to Ghana.
Regardless of the national team’s coaching situation, Byekwaso is focused on preparing the team for their upcoming friendly matches against Mali and Zambia. These matches serve as vital preparation for Uganda’s opening games in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Guinea and Somalia next month.
