Ssekatawa strike not enough as Uganda legends fall to Zanzibar in Nairobi
David GOMBE
Isa Ssekatawa’s first-half strike was not enough as Uganda Football Legends under their umbrella Former Footballers Initiative lost 2-1 to Zanzibar in their opening match of the ongoing East African Legends Festival 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ssekatawa netted the first goal of the tournament that unites former East African stars aged 60 and above, but Zanzibar rallied back with second-half goals from Muhamud Hamza and Uzia Abdallah to take all three points.
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.
In goal for Uganda was Ali Ssengedeya, who featured for the Uganda Cranes at the 1974 and 1976 Africa Cup of Nations. The team was captained by Jimmy Ssekandi, who formerly turned out for Express FC, Uganda Commercial Bank FC, KCC FC and Nsambya FC, while 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. Meanwhile, former UCB captain Polycap Kisekka came on as a substitute along with Edward Baguma who played at the 1974 and 1976 AFCON.
Isa Salim Isabirye who played as a midfielder Nytil, Nsambya, Kenya’s Taitex Mills FC and Kenya Breweries now (Tusker FC) was also part of the Ugandan team against Zanzibar.
Elsewhere, hosts Kenya lost 3-0 to neighbours Tanzania and will seek to make amends when they face Uganda on Tuesday.
The festival, held under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” is organized by AgeWatch Africa under the banner Dignity in Every Season.