Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put has dropped two local club captains after naming his final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, dealing a major blow to KCCA FC skipper Charles Lukwago and SC Villa captain David Owori.
The duo are the most notable omissions from the squad for the continental showpiece, despite being influential leaders at club level in the Uganda Premier League. Coach Put, however, retained six locally-based players as he blended experience with form ahead of the tournament.
League top scorer Allan Okello of Vipers SC, who netted 19 goals last season, has been named and is set to make his AFCON debut. He is joined by Ivan Ahimbisibwe, last season’s second top scorer with URA FC, who has scored five league goals so far this season with KCCA FC.
SC Villa’s Reagan Mpande, who impressed at the 2024 CHAN tournament hosted in East Africa, also earned a place in the squad. Vipers SC defensive duo Hilary Mukundane and Rogers Torach, who partnered during the CHAN campaign, are included, alongside KCCA FC winger Shafik Nana Kwikiriza.
Uganda has been drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania. The Cranes will kick off their AFCON campaign against Tunisia on December 23.
UGANDA CRANES FINAL AFCON 2025 SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Alionzi Nafian Legason, Denis Onyango, Magoola Salim
Defenders:
Rogers Torach, Timothy Awany, Kenneth Semakula, Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, Jordan Obita, Isaac Muleme, Aziz Kayondo, Hilary Mukundane
Midfielders:
Bobosi Byaruhanga, Khalid Aucho, Travis Mutyaba, Baba Al Hassan, Ronald Ssekiganda, Allan Okello
Forwards:
Rogers Mato, Uchechukwu Ikpeazu, Steven Mukwala, Denis Omedi, Reagan Mpande, Jude Ssemugabi, James Bogere, Shafik Nana Kwikiriza, Lorenzen Melvyn, Ivan Ahimbisibwe
The Cranes now turn focus to Group C, where stern tests against Africa’s heavyweights await as Uganda targets a strong AFCON outing despite the headline-grabbing omissions.
