Team Uganda uses East African football legends festival to promote tourism in Nairobi
David GOMBE
Former Uganda football players under their umbrella Former Footballers Initiative have used the second edition of the East African Legends Festival 2026 to promote tourism in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
The tournament, which brings together East African football legends aged 60 and above, officially kicked off on Monday at Nairobi City Stadium.
Former Uganda footballers, through their umbrella body Former Footballers Initiative (FFI), wore national team jerseys branded with messages promoting Uganda’s tourism potential – including “Pearl of Africa”, “Beautiful Uganda”, “Proudly Ugandan”, “Born to Explore” and “Untamed Beauty”.
Zanzibar players also promoted their tourism brand, with “Visit Zanzibar” printed on the back of their jerseys, after beating last year’s runners-up Uganda 2-1.
Legendary striker Isa Ssekatawa scored the first goal of this year’s edition, but it was not enough to hand Uganda victory. Ssekatawa, a former KCC, Nytil and Express FC forward, remains the only player to win the Ugandan top-flight golden boot for three consecutive seasons.
Zanzibar rallied back with second-half goals from Muhamud Hamza and Uzia Abdallah to take all three points.
Team Uganda was captained by Jimmy Ssekandi, who formerly turned out for Express FC, Uganda Commercial Bank FC, KCC FC and Nsambya FC. Other notable starters included former Wandegeya, Express FC and Entebbe Works player Kennedy Lubogo, former Nsambya right-back Edward Nsubuga, former Express FC defender William Makumbi and former SC Villa defender Rajab Sekalye, while Ali Ssengedeya, who featured for the Uganda Cranes at the 1974 and 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, was in goal.
Former UCB captain Polycap Kisekka came on as a substitute alongside Edward Baguma, who played at the 1974 and 1976 AFCON. On Tuesday, Uganda will seek to make amends against hosts Kenya who lost 3-0 to reigning champions Tanzania.