David GOMBE
In a year packed with historic World events and incredible achievements, sport also excelled throughout 2024 in giving us some more unlikely moments of entertainment. As 2024 comes to a close, the Swift Sports Uganda takes a look at the top Sports moments.
SC Villa end 20-year Title Drought
18th May, 2024 will forever be remembered by SC Villa faithfuls in the country. Under the stewardship of Serbian tactician Dusan Stojanovic, Villa ended a 20 year wait without winning the Uganda Premier league title after clinching a record extending 17th title.
The Jogoos needed a 2-0 victory over NEC FC at Philip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, thanks to goals from Charles Lwanga and Hakim Kiwanuka.
To win the title, SC Villa finished with 57 points while BUL FC were second on 56 points.
Joshua Cheptegei Seals his Legacy in Paris
On August, 2nd 2024, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei clinched the 10000m Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics to complete his coronation on the track.
The three-time world champion surged to the Olympic title in a record Olympic time of 26min 43.14sec in what was probably his last 10000m race.
Cheptegei who finished second to Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega at the Tokyo games three years ago completed his illustrious long-distance running career on the track with the 10000m gold that he had craved for years.
The 10000m final was incredibly fast, with the first 13 finishers all coming in under the previous Olympic record, that was set by the legendary Kenenisa Bekele at the Beijing games in 2008.
Uganda Cranes return to AFCON
On November, 14th 2024 Uganda Cranes returned to the AFCON tournament after missing out on the previous two editions (2021 and 2023).
Under the guidance of Belgian Paul Put, Uganda finished second in Group K of the qualification campaign that was topped by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. The Cranes finished with 13 points after managing four wins, a draw and lost once. Congo Brazzaville and South Sudan were the other countries in the group.
Uganda has now qualified to AFCON eight times. These include;1962, 1968, 1972,1974, 1978, 2017, 2019 and 2025.
Kitara Triumphs in Uganda Cup
Kitara FC won the 50th edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup on 25th May 2024 following their 1-0 win over NEC FC in the final that was played at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.
Solomon Okwalinga netted the all important goal in the second half of the contest to send the Kitara faithfuls into elation.
Both sides were featuring in their first ever Uganda Cup Final.
Uganda Cubs Qualify for AFCON U-17
Uganda U-17 national football team (Cubs) needed a comeback win to beat Tanzania 2-1 to clinch the 2025 Afcon U-17 qualifiers (Cecafa zone) held at Hamz Stadium, Kampala on 27th December.
Victory also earned the Uganda Cubs who were coached by Brian Ssenyondo a place in next year’s AFCON U-17 Final tournament due in Morocco.
Omedi Rabona to the World
Uganda Cranes and Kitara FC striker Denis Omedi was nominated at both the FIFA Puskas Award and CAF goal of the year accolade.
Denis Omedi’s exquisite rabona goal against KCCA in the Fufa Super 8 in August received only 13,766 votes to finish sixth out of 11.
Angola’s Cristovao Mabululu goal against Namibia in the AFCON 2023 won the CAF gong.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho’s bicycle kick against Everton won the FIFA Puskas Award while Algeria’s Yassine Benzia was second with 22 points, with Omedi third on 16 points.
Football Returns to Namboole and Nakivubo
May, 1st 2024 was the day when Uganda’s biggest Stadium Mandela National Stadium, Namboole hosted its first games following its refurbishment.
BUL FC Vs Vipers SC and KCCA FC Vs SC Villa were the two games that were played at the venue that had spend almost five years under refurbishment.
Since then, Namboole has hosted two Uganda Cranes 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier matches against Botswana and Algeria as well as 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville, South Sudan and South Africa.
It also hosted Kenya games against Zimbabwe and Cameroon as well as Zimbabwe against Cameroon in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
1st June, Nakivubo Stadium was officially opened following its refurbishment by Hamis Kiggundu.
Uganda Premier league football returned to Nakivubo Stadium for the first time since 2017 with Express FC hosting Mbale Heroes on 16th September 2024.
Nakivubo had last hosted a league game on 27th February, 2017 when SC Villa beat Sadolin Paints 1-0 thanks to an Emmanuel Okwi sole goal.
The 2025 CAF Qualifiers (CECAFA U-17 Zone) were hosted at Nakivubo with Uganda Cubs coming out triumphant following a 2-1 victory over Tanzania.
City Oilers cruise to record extending 10th consecutive National Basketball title
On September, 4th 2024 City Oilers secured a record extending 10th consecutive National Basketball title after their victory over KIU Titans.
City Oilers prevailed 64-51 to complete a clean 4-0 sweep in the best of seven series.
City Oilers Titles since 2013
2013: City Oilers
2014: City Oilers
2015: City Oilers
2016: City Oilers
2017: City Oilers
2018: City Oilers
2019: City Oilers
2020: N/A (COVID)
2021: N/A (COVID)
2022: City Oilers
2023: City Oilers
2024: City Oilers
