The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has appointed Kingston on a two-year deal, which will see him take charge of the country’s U-17, U-20, and U-23 men’s sides.

Speaking to Joy Sports after his unveiling, the former Black Stars winger expressed his excitement and determination to make a difference.

“I’m going to give 110% to the job. Whatever I’ve signed up for, I’m going to give my all, and I can’t wait,” he said.

“The most important thing for me is to make an impact wherever I go. Looking at the Uganda job, I felt it was the perfect opportunity at the right time,” Kingston added.

A holder of UEFA A and CAF B coaching licenses, Kingston brings considerable experience in nurturing young talent.

He previously worked with Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy and FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, where he played a key role in developing several promising African players.

Kingston also served as both assistant and head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, stepping down in May 2024 after narrowly missing out on qualification for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Before taking up the Ugandan post, he worked in a developmental coaching role at RPS Academies in the United States, continuing his focus on youth growth and football education.

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The former Black Starlets boss will oversee the U-17, U-20, and U-23 men’s teams for the next two years, with a mandate to spearhead youth football development across the country.

Kingston was officially unveiled on Wednesday, October 8, by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).

“FUFA CEO Edgar Watson has today unveiled Laryea Kingston as the Head coach of all Uganda National Men Football Junior Teams for the next 2 years,” a statement on the federation’s social media page read.

“Laryea is a Ghanaian with UEFA A and CAF B coaching license holder.

“Brian Ssenyondo will remain the head coach of the U17 team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, due next month.

“He had earlier informed FUFA this would be his final assignment at the U17 level, but would be available for consideration at other levels of National teams.”

FUFA also announced that Brian Ssenyondo will continue as coach of the U-17 side until the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off next month. Ssenyondo had earlier informed the federation that this tournament would be his final assignment at that level, though he remains open to future national team roles.

Kingston’s appointment underscores FUFA’s commitment to strengthening its youth football structure.

The former Hearts of Oak and Lokomotiv Moscow winger boasts a solid track record in youth development, having previously worked with Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy and Danish side FC Nordsjælland, where he nurtured several young African talents.

He later served as both assistant and head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team before resigning in May 2024, following a narrow miss in qualifying for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Before his Ugandan appointment, Kingston held a developmental coaching role at RPS Academies in the United States.

This year’s tournament promises to showcase the very best of African homegrown talent, offering fans a thrilling preview of what to expect when the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is held in the region in a couple of years.

But will the three host nations be able to challenge for the title this year and lay down a maker for when the AFCON comes around in two years’ time?

Tanzania: Riding the Wave of Home Support

As one of the three co-hosts, Tanzania will kick off CHAN 2025 in Dar es Salaam at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Drawn in Group B alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, Tanzania finds itself in a relatively balanced group. That gives the Taifa Stars a legitimate shot at advancing to the knockout stage.

The national team has shown promise in recent years, bolstered by domestic clubs like Young Africans SC (Yanga) and Simba SC, which have produced a steady stream of talent. Veterans like Mbwana Samatta, though not CHAN-eligible if playing abroad, have set high standards for the current local squad. Recent performances, including wins in regional friendlies and CECAFA tournaments, show a team capable of exploiting home conditions effectively.

With CHAN being a tournament exclusive to players in national domestic leagues, Tanzania’s strong club football ecosystem could give them the cohesion and sharpness required. Playing at home with raucous support in one of East Africa’s best football venues gives them a major edge. A quarterfinal appearance is a realistic and achievable goal – and a strong run could set the tone for AFCON 2027.

Uganda: Dark Horses with Momentum

Uganda enters CHAN 2025 with quiet confidence, having recently beaten Senegal, the reigning CHAN champions, in a high-profile friendly. Hosting Group C at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium (Namboole), Uganda will face tough opposition in Algeria, South Africa, Guinea, and Niger.

Coach Morley Byekwaso has emphasised discipline and teamwork in recent training camps, and the domestic league’s increasing competitiveness – through clubs like KCCA FC and Vipers SC – has provided a solid pipeline of home-based talent. Uganda’s preparation, including their performance in the recent CECAFA Four Nations Cup, indicates growing tactical cohesion and mental resilience.

While their group is arguably the tournament’s toughest, Uganda will benefit immensely from passionate home fans in Kampala. With proper execution, they can realistically push for the knockout rounds. A strong CHAN run would not only boost morale but demonstrate that Uganda can compete at a high level ahead of AFCON 2027, when it hosts group-stage matches and the third-place playoff.

Kenya: Big Test, Bigger Ambitions

Kenya faces a daunting challenge in Group A, where they’ve been drawn alongside CHAN heavyweights Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia. However, Kenya has the advantage of hosting the final match at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, with group games also set for Nyayo Stadium.

Under newly appointed coach Benni McCarthy, the Harambee Stars are building a refreshed squad focused on domestic players. The additional time granted by the tournament’s postponement to August 2025 has given Kenya’s technical team a chance to scout and prepare better. Captain Aboud Omar has publicly emphasised turning home support into motivation, and the federation is eyeing CHAN as a proving ground before AFCON 2027.

Although advancing from such a stacked group will be challenging, Kenya’s energetic home atmosphere, new coaching leadership, and a point to prove could spark a surprise run. Even a strong showing in the group stage would build valuable momentum for the country’s biggest hosting test yet in 2027.

East Africa’s Time to Shine

As CHAN 2025 unfolds across Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, the tournament represents more than just a continental competition—it’s a dress rehearsal for AFCON 2027 and a chance for East Africa to showcase its footballing growth on home soil. Each host nation brings a unique blend of ambition, talent, and home-ground advantage to the table.

Whether or not they lift the trophy, a strong showing from the co-hosts could shift perceptions, inspire future generations, and set the tone for a landmark AFCON in two years’ time.

CHAN 2025 isn’t just about winning—it’s about making a statement. And East Africa is ready to be heard.

The practice, in use for the last two decades, has long been criticised by opposition politicians and rights campaigners who accuse the government of using courts martial to silence opponents, which it denies.

In a post on the X platform, parliament said the legislation had been passed.

The head of the military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, praised the speaker of parliament and government lawmakers for passing the bill. “Today, you proved you are fearless patriots! Uganda will remember your courage and commitment,” he said on X.

Military spokesman Chris Magezi said the law “will deal decisively with armed violent criminals, deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes, and ensure national security is bound on a firm foundational base.”

During a debate on the law, opposition politician Jonathan Odur, said the legislation was “shallow, unreasonable and unconstitutional.”

“There’s no legal basis to provide for trial of civilians in the military court.”

The next step will be for President Yoweri Museveni to approve the law for it to take effect.

In a ruling in January, Uganda’s Supreme Court forbade military trials of civilians, saying the tribunals lacked legal competence to handle criminal trials in a fair and impartial manner.

The verdict forced authorities to transfer the trial of a major opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who was undergoing military prosecution for offences including treason, to a civilian court.

Besigye, who has previously challenged incumbent Museveni four times in elections, was detained in neighbouring Kenya last year and brought to Uganda to face a military court.

His lawyers and his party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), have called the charges politically motivated.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine was also in 2018 charged in a military court for alleged illegal possession of firearms although the charges against the pop star-turned-politician were later dropped.

Human Rights Watch has previously criticised Uganda’s military courts, saying they did not meet international judicial standards of competence, independence and impartiality.

The courts also routinely use evidence extracted through torture of defendants while also ignoring other key fair trial rules, the rights group said. The military denies the accusations.

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The fatality brings the number of confirmed cases in Uganda to 10.

The East African country declared an outbreak of the highly infectious and often fatal haemorrhagic disease in January after the death of a male nurse at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital Kampala.

The WHO’s Uganda office posted late on Saturday on X that the ministry had reported “an additional positive case in Mulago hospital of a four-and-a-half-year-old child, who tragically passed away” on Tuesday.

Mulago is the country’s sole national referral hospital for Ebola cases.

The ministry said on February 18 that all eight Ebola patients under care had been discharged but that at least 265 contacts remained under strict quarantine in Kampala and two other cities.

Ebola symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pains. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue.

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Abubakar Lawal, 29, reportedly fell from a third-floor balcony at the Voicemall Shopping Arcade, where he had gone to visit a Tanzanian friend. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, the police said.

They said Lawal’s friend, identified as Omary Naima, had left him in her room – which is part of the mall building – preparing tea before the incident happened.

Lawal was a striker playing for local team Vipers Sports Club, which has expressed its sadness for the “untimely passing of our beloved player”.

Tributes have been flowing in for the footballer, who has been with the Vipers club since July 2022 after a two-year stint with AS Kigali in Rwanda.

Vipers said “Lawal (Man from Sokoto) was a unique person. He had a big heart of gold. He really cared about people and went out of his way to help. He was incredibly generous”.

“We mourn the sudden demise of our ex-player Abubakar Lawal earlier today. May God grant him eternal rest,” his former team in Nigeria, Nasarawa United, said.

“It’s hard to take in that you’re no more Lawal A kind, talented, jolly, and loving person you have been. You will forever be missed bro,” said Ugandan footballer Mustafa Kizza.

Local media say the matter has left more questions than answers amid conflicting reports of the circumstances of Lawal’s death.

Some media had earlier reported that he had died in a motorcycle accident.

Police said the exact circumstances of the death were being investigated.

“Authorities are retrieving CCTV footage and conducting thorough interrogations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said.

The police have retrieved some items belonging to the deceased player, including two smartphones, shoes, headsets and training kit.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” the police added.

He knew something was wrong, and that he had two options – go to a hospital or believe the rumours that were circulating in his community and stay home.

“I knew I was infected, but the fear was overwhelming,” the 32-year-old truck driver told Al Jazeera about the epidemic that lasted four months and killed 55 people.

His fear stemmed from conspiracy theories that patients treated in the community were being injected with substances that killed them instantly.

It took him two days to realise no one was being killed and some were even recovering. After that, “I personally called an ambulance to pick me up,” he says.

The 2022 health crisis was Uganda’s seventh outbreak of Ebola – a highly infectious hemorrhagic disease – and its fifth of the Sudan virus (SVD) strain, which has a more than 40 percent fatality rate.

Kayiwa – one of 142 confirmed cases that time – was lucky to survive, though many others were not.

Now, just two years later, on January 30, 2025, Uganda announced its latest Sudan Ebola outbreak. The Ministry of Health identified a 32-year-old male nurse who had died as the first documented case. He was an employee at Mulago National Referral Hospital, the country’s top medical facility.

The nurse initially developed fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at two health facilities in the greater Kampala area and another in eastern Uganda, near the Kenyan border.

While there is no approved vaccine for the Sudan Ebola strain, a vaccine for the Zaire Ebola strain – which caused the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people – was developed and approved in 2022.

The Zaire strain, which was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire), is the most lethal of the four ebolaviruses in existence.

“In the absence of licensed vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of SVD, the risk of potential serious public health impact is high,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said about the current outbreak in Uganda.

According to the WHO, Ebola symptoms appear between two and 21 days after infection, and can include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and bleeding from the nose, gums, ears and eyes.

As it is highly infectious, patients have to be isolated and treated. Medical workers handling Ebola patients are also required to wear full personal protective equipment, adhere to strict hygiene protocols, and handle dead bodies safely to avoid infection.

While the disease itself is a huge challenge for the continent, this is compounded by other stumbling blocks, experts say, including traditional beliefs, witchcraft, and conspiracy theories that often impede Ebola treatment and control.

In Uganda, the Ministry of Health said the nurse who died last month had visited a traditional healer.

His relatives also reportedly attempted to exhume his body to rebury it in accordance with Muslim faith dictates. However, this poses serious risks as bodies can still be infectious for a period after death.

When a friend of Kayiwa’s contracted Ebola in 2022 before he did, they believed he had been bewitched, and their first option was to take him to traditional healers.

They also thought he was suffering from an illness known locally as “Ettalo”, which causes unexplained pain, and tried local herbal medicine to cure it.

Deeper conspiracy theories also prevailed during the 2022 outbreak, which started in Mubende District, an area about 160km (100 miles) from Kampala famous for artisanal gold mining.

“When we first heard about the outbreak, it was linked to the Kassanda-Mubende gold mines,” Kayiwa says. “Many people, including myself, thought it was a plot by officials to drive out the artisanal miners and take over the mining areas.”

Lack of communication

The current outbreak, however, has come with new challenges.

Key among them appears to be a lack of clear communication from government authorities about the outbreak; pushback from businesses, especially in the tourism sector, who argue that the way the outbreak was announced hurts the industry; and hesitancy among some people exposed to the virus to accept a new vaccine, which has been offered for trial.

At an event to officially launch the vaccine trial last Monday, Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of public health at the Ministry of Health in Uganda, along with other officials, including representatives from the WHO, would not provide details on the Ebola outbreak.

Kyabayinze said authorities “are going to be releasing the status of the outbreak in a format that is separate from the vaccination process”. He argued that discussing Ebola status updates alongside the vaccine trial would lead to a “mix-up [of] messages”, which he deemed inappropriate.

Officials said the minister of health would hold a media event later that day to give an update. But that did not happen.

Emmanuel Ainebyona, a Health Ministry spokesperson, said he had no status update to share and referred Al Jazeera to high-ranking officials in the ministry. The officials did not answer repeated phone calls.

Since the outbreak was announced, the government has provided no further communication. Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng told journalists on Wednesday that updates would be given fortnightly rather than daily.

“Don’t ask us for case numbers every day – that is not important. What is important is that you go to the communities, tell them they need to protect themselves, and ensure they pass on information,” she said.

Without providing specifics, she added: “The update is that we have Ebola cases in the country. They are receiving treatment and improving.”

Pushback from tourism sector

From the onset, the way the current outbreak was communicated elicited sharp criticism from Uganda’s tourism industry.

Amos Wekesa, a prominent businessman in the tourism sector, posted on X criticising the government for poor strategic communication and arguing that the Ebola outbreak story had been widely covered by international media, leading to travel advisories being issued against Uganda. Countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Mauritius urged their citizens to take precautions while travelling to the country.

“Many countries might target Ugandans,” he said, adding that life was continuing as normal in Kampala.

“There will never be a disease outbreak or any attack that will ever kill more Ugandans than poverty, ” he said in a separate post on X.

Martin Mugara, Uganda’s junior minister for tourism, said on a local radio station last Saturday, “I was a bit shocked that they communicated the way they did,” referring to the Ministry of Health’s announcement of the Ebola outbreak.

Muhereza Kyamutetera, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Association, said in an interview that there is a need for “coordinated conversation and communication” before announcing health outbreaks.

“The moment news of an epidemic outbreak goes public, the next day, tour companies start receiving emails for cancellations and refund requests,” Kyamutetera said.

He explained that the Ebola outbreak would affect the tourism sector for the entire year and, combined with previous incidents, affect the country’s reputation as a travel destination for years to come.

“The reputation of the destination is the most important thing,” he said. He added that many international travellers may not be aware of Uganda’s experience in handling Ebola outbreaks.

Though at first hesitant to wade into what he described as a controversial debate, Kyabayinze, the director of public health, told Al Jazeera last week that international health regulations require every country to report any outbreak of a disease that poses a significant threat to the global community as per WHO requirements.

“Uganda announcing the outbreak was critical and important and I think we did the right thing,” he said. However, he hastened to add they “don’t want to disrupt travel, trade and tourism.”

Vaccine hesitancy

The WHO praised the speed at which Uganda was able to launch a randomised vaccine trial during an emergency Ebola outbreak last week.

In a statement, the organisation said the trial, which began in Uganda just four days after the outbreak was confirmed, is the first-ever one to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against Ebola disease caused by the Sudan virus.

Despite more than half of the identified contacts of the first Ebola fatality being health workers and patients from the national referral hospital, only one person received the trial vaccine last Monday. The trial itself was being conducted at the same referral hospital.

An official involved in the vaccination process told Al Jazeera that one contact who had initially agreed to receive the trial vaccine later changed his mind. There were hopes that the individual could still be convinced to take the vaccine without media presence.

Dr Bruce Kirenga, principal of Makerere University College of Health Sciences and executive director of the Makerere University Lung Institute, who is leading the vaccine trials, acknowledged that vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge.

“My job is to remove this hesitancy. I did it for COVID, and I will do it now,” he said.

“What causes hesitancy is a lack of information. We are going to provide people with the information they need, and they will understand the importance of participating,” he added.

What can be done better?

Freddie Ssengooba, a public health professor at Makerere School of Public Health, said while the competence of the government to handle the epidemic is not in question, the public deserves more information, especially on measures and how they should behave.

“There is an information gap, we are all anxious to know what is happening.”

Meanwhile, survivors of previous Ebola outbreaks urge people to be cautious and not to believe in rumours or conspiracy theories that could put their lives and communities at risk.

During the time Kayiwa was in hospital in 2022, he says he witnessed many deaths, and the trauma of that stays with him.

“In the first room where I was first admitted, all the patients died,” he says. “Ebola is no joke.”

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The landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, affected multiple villages in the Bulambuli district, about 280 km (178 miles) from the capital, Kampala.

The Ugandan Red Cross Society said at least 14 people had died, but AFP has reported the death toll could be as high as 30 people.

A rescue operation is underway, the Ugandan Red Cross Society said on X.

At least six of the bodies recovered have been children, the Ugandan Red Cross told the BBC.

Heavy rainfall has inundated the East African country for the last few days.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja issued a disaster warning on X.

“People are suspected to be missing, and some are feared buried by the slides,” her statement said.

Rivers have burst their banks, flooding schools and churches, destroying bridges, and isolating communities.

The military has been deployed to assist with search and recovery efforts.

On Wednesday, the defence forces said on X that two boats had been deployed during an operation to rescue a taxi stuck on a bridge near the town of Pakwach.

One of the boats capsized, and an engineer died.

In Parliament on Thursday, the Speaker, Anitah Among, expressed her condolences to the relatives of those who have lost their lives in the flooding across the country.

This is not the first time that eastern Uganda has been hit by floods and landslides.

In 2010, a landslide in Bududa killed about 300 people. This was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country.

The region is mountainous, with arable land that is good for farming—one of the reasons people are reluctant to move away, alongside their attachment to their ancestral land.

But this year alone, the heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides have forced thousands of people to leave their homes, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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Chemutai became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal when she triumphed in the 3000m Steeplechase at Tokyo 2020, running a time of 9:01.45 to come home ahead of Courtney Frerichs (USA) and Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (Kenya).

“I am feeling great. Today I made it. It is the first time Uganda gets the gold medal in 3000m Steeplechase. I am so happy to be an Olympic champion,” said Chemutai. “I thought about going in the front of the race, but the American girl (Frerichs) came in front. With 500m [remaining], I just decided to go, and I went hard until the finish.”

All of Uganda’s 10 previous medals at the Olympic Games had come from men. The nation’s two prior Olympic golds had come from John Akii-Bua at Munich 1972 and marathon runner Stephen Kiprotich at London 2012.

Chemutai hails from the Bukwo District and took up running in 2013. Just two years later, at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, Samoa, she won silver medals in the 1500m and 3000m. The following year, at age 17, she finished in seventh place in the final of the women’s 3000m Steeplechase event at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The teenager was part of Uganda’s 2016 Olympic team but was unable to qualify for the finals of the 3000m Steeplechase in Rio de Janeiro. Yet five years later in Japan, 22-year-old Chemutai was the class of the field and made history by claiming the gold medal.

In 2024 she continued to excel, as she won the 3000m Steeplechase race at the Prefontaine Classic [a Diamond League event] in Eugene in a time of 8:55.09, beating her own national record and running under the nine-minute barrier for the first time.

“I am very happy that I continue to improve as we get closer to the Paris Olympics,” Chemutai explained. “I continue to work hard because my focus remains to defend the gold medal I won at the Tokyo Olympics.”

The final of the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase will be held on the track at Stade de France on the evening of Tuesday 6 August LIVE on SuperSport.

DStv is your ultimate destination for the Olympic Games, while DStv Stream allows viewers to watch their favourite sport live anywhere, any time. Upgrade to DStv Premium to enjoy the fastest sport in the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement.

In his first two games, Addo’s side recorded a 2-1 defeat against Nigeria before a 2-2 drawn game against Uganda all at the Stade de Marrakesh in Morroco in the March international window.

Addo’s appointment comes amidst the team’s recent struggles, including early exits from consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Addressing the team’s performance against Uganda on Tuesday evening, Addo stressed the importance of improving finishing under pressure and acknowledged the significant work required to elevate the team’s standards.

“Finishing must be better under pressure. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of work but I have to say this is what I expected because…we were not good even before I came so it’s a process,” Addo remarked.

The Black Stars now focus on the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers where they will face Mali and the Central African Republic in June later this year, games Otto Addo must win to ensure Ghana’s chances of qualification.

With a determination to overcome recent challenges and improve the team’s performance, Addo aims to steer the Black Stars back on track for success.

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Otto Addo’s side clashed with the Cranes of Uganda at the Stade de Marrakesh in their final friendly game in the March international window.

Having suffered a 2-1 defeat against Nigeria in their first game last weekend, the Black Stars were hoping to record their first win after their abysmal performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Despite taking the lead twice against the Ugandan side, the Black Stars were unable to hold on to their advantage, conceding twice.

The Black Stars scored after just six minutes into the first half. Defender Jerome Opoku found the back of the net with a header after meeting a well-taken corner kick from Jordan Ayew.

Although Ghana continued to dominate the game, Uganda managed to come in strong and restored parity through a penalty kick converted by Steven Mukwala.

Before the halftime break, Jordan Ayew scored from 12 yards to make it 2-1 for the Black Stars in the first half.

In a pulsating second half, the Black Stars conceded in the last 10 minutes as Uganda forced the match to end in a 2-2 draw.

The Black Stars will now turn their attention to their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic in June later this year.

Ghana will today face the Cranes of Uganda in their final friendly game at the Stade de Marrakesh. 

The Black Stars in their first friendly game against Nigeria on Friday, suffered a 2-1 defeat with 10 players with Jerome Opoku being sent off in the second half.

However, ahead of the game, Asante Twum says the players are eager and ready to win against the Cranes. 

“From the time we arrived in Morocco for these games, the players have trained well and were just unlucky to lose against Nigeria,” he said on the Ultimate Sports Show on Asempa FM. 

“You could see how the players played against Nigeria even though we didn’t start well, but we were good in the second half l but we lost but you could see the positives. The players have shown determination, readiness and eagerness to win against Uganda and that is Otto Addo’s aim,” he added. 

The games form part of Ghana’s preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic in June, later this year.

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Addo, 43, shared his perspective following the Black Stars recent 2-1 loss to Nigeria at the Stade de Marrakesh.

Ahead of the clash, Addo emphasized the difficulty of facing the East African team.

“Yeah, we have Uganda on Tuesday, and while I believe the boys played well if they assume it will be an easy game, they’re mistaken. Uganda is formidable. I’ve observed them somewhat before, but I need to delve deeper,” he remarked.

Acknowledging Uganda’s strong roster, Addo stressed the importance of devising a solid strategy for victory.

“They boast exceptional talent, so we must formulate a solid plan to clinch the win. I don’t view us as favourites; it’s bound to be a closely contested match. Rest is imperative now, alongside tactical pondering, and perhaps integrating some fresh players.”

He further emphasized the significance of these friendlies in preparing for future competitions.

“For me, it’s crucial to explore various options and solutions for upcoming games. These friendlies offer vital insights into our opponents’ style and how we can adapt, crucial for our World Cup qualifiers in June.”

With Addo recently returning for his second stint as Black Stars coach on a 34-month deal, he aims to secure his first win in charge.

The games form part of Ghana’s preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In a keenly-contested game at the Accra Sports Stadium, promising striker, Jerry Afriyie scored late as Ghana’s U-20 side won gold.

The forward fired a low shot just outside the box to beat the Uganda goalkeeper to break the deadlock and hand victory to Ghana.

Here are some photos of how the Black Satellites celebrate their win.

The highly anticipated final pitted Ghana’s U-20 side against Uganda in a battle for supremacy at the Accra Sports Stadium.

After a tense first half with no goals, the match reached a fever pitch in the second half. Jerry Afriyie emerged as the hero for Ghana, delivering a late goal that sealed their victory and crowned them champions of the tournament.

This triumph marks a significant achievement for Ghana, echoing their success at the 2011 edition in Maputo.

Ghana displayed exceptional prowess from the outset, nearly finding the opening goal within the first 20 minutes, only to have it disallowed by the referee due to an infringement in the box.

Despite several promising opportunities for both teams in the first half, Ghana remained unable to break the deadlock, with Abdul Hakim Sulemana coming close.

As the game resumed after halftime, Desmond Ofei’s squad continued their relentless attack, maintaining dominance on their home turf.

However, the elusive winning goal remained just out of reach for Ghana until the dying moments of the match.

In a dramatic turn of events, Afriyie seized an opportunity on the edge of the box, unleashing a powerful low strike that eluded the Ugandan goalkeeper and sent the stadium into a frenzy.

With their lead secured, the Black Satellites displayed unwavering resolve to defend their advantage and clinch the coveted gold medal.

While Ghana celebrated their triumph, Uganda settled for the silver medal, with Senegal securing the bronze in the fiercely contested tournament.

Under the guidance of coach Otto Addo, the team has been in Morocco since Monday, gearing up for the two matches scheduled for Friday, March 22, and Tuesday, March 26, 2024, respectively.

Initially, thirteen players assembled in camp before the remainder of the squad joined on Tuesday evening.

The players displayed impressive fitness levels and eagerness to secure spots in the team as Ghana embarks on a new chapter under the leadership of the former Borussia Dortmund star.

These friendly fixtures serve as crucial opportunities for Otto Addo to evaluate his squad ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June and other future assignments.

Among the players present in camp are Osman Bukari, Edmund Addo, Jerome Opoku, Forson Amankwaah, Ebenezer Annan, Baba Iddrisu, Francis Abu, Tariq Lamptey, and Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

Completing the roster are Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Kasim Nuhu, Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Samed Salis, Patrick Kpozo, Alidu Seidu, Joseph Wollacott, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Denis Odoi, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Ibrahim, Abdulai Nurudeen, and Frederick Asare.

The initial encounter against Nigeria is slated to take place at the Grande de Stade Marrakech in Morocco on Friday, March 22, 2024, followed by a match against Uganda’s Cranes on March 26, at the same venue.

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Despite being included in Otto Addo’s squad for the two friendly matches scheduled to take place at the Stade de Marrakesh, Kudus’ participation has been hindered by the post-game shoulder discomfort after featuring in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

This development makes Kudus the latest player to withdraw from the Black Stars squad after Nathaniel Adjei of FC Lorient and Elisha Owusu of Auxerre also pulled out due to injuries.

Ghana’s upcoming matches against Nigeria on March 22, 2024, and Uganda on March 26, 2024, will proceed as planned at the same venue in Morocco, with preparations already underway under the guidance of the new technical team led by Otto Addo. Currently, 23 players are at the camp of the team.

The games form part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali in June later this year.

Otto Addo’s return to the helm follows the dismissal of Chris Hughton post the Black Stars’ poor performance at the AFCON in Ivory Coast.

The team hopes for a positive start under Addo’s leadership as they face their African counterparts in the upcoming friendlies.

Facing off against Senegal’s Young Teranga Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Satellites showcased their dominance in the first half.

Despite their control of the game, Ghana couldn’t convert their opportunities, entering halftime on equal footing with their opponents.

The second half saw Ghana maintaining their pressure, although Senegal managed some offensive moments, struggling to breach the host’s defense.

In the crucial 83rd minute, substitute Michael Ephson turned the tide, netting a close-range goal to give the Black Satellites the lead they deserved.

Holding onto their advantage, Ghana clinched a narrow victory, booking their ticket to the final.

They will now gear up to face Uganda, who emerged victorious against Congo in the other semifinal match.

The final showdown is set for Friday, March 22nd at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana is slated to reignite its historic rivalry with Nigeria on Friday, March 22, followed by a match against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, March 26, both to be held at the Stade de Marrakech.

These matches are integral to the Black Stars preparations for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, particularly their fixtures against Mali scheduled for June this year.

The team aims to bounce back from a disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Ivory Coast, where they endured a second consecutive early elimination during the group stage.

Following this setback, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) relieved Chris Hughton of his coaching duties.

Leading the team for the friendly encounters is Otto Addo, who has been reappointed as the Black Stars coach under a 34-month contract. Assisting him are Joseph Lauman, Joseph Paintsil, and Fatawu Dauda, who form part of his technical staff.

Addo has already unveiled a 26-man squad for the matches. However, notable absentees include Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, and Joseph Paintsil, each sidelined for various reasons.

However, thirteen players assembled at the training camp in Marrakech, Morocco, in preparation for Ghana’s upcoming international friendlies.

The players include Joseph Wollacott, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Andre Ayew, Tariq Lamptey, and Antoine Semnyo.

Additionally, joining the squad are Kassim Nuhu (called up later), Abdul Samed Salis, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Patrick Kpozo, Seidu Alidu, Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, and Denis Odoi.

The rest of the players are expected to join the camp before the games.

The Black Stars are slated to lock horns with Nigeria and Uganda during the March international break, marking their first appearances since bowing out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Among the notable inclusions are five fresh faces, with Asante Kotoko’s Frederick Asare among the newly named players.

Joining the roster are Bolivia-based David Akologo, who also earned a call-up to the Bolivia national team, as well as Lorient’s Nathaniel Adjei, Mohammed Diomande from Rangers, and Nordsjaelland’s Ibrahim Osman.

The return of Tariq Lamptey adds vigour to the squad following his recovery from a lengthy injury, which sidelined him during the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. Additionally, Patrick Kpozo and Edmund Addo have secured their spots in the lineup.

Adding to the mix is the dynamic form of Leicester City’s winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who clinches a spot in the provisional squad for the impending fixtures.

Ghana is set to clash with Nigeria on March 22 before squaring off against Uganda four days later.

See full squad here:

The announcement of this friendly encounter came from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA)  through their official social media channels.

This match follows the Black Stars’ poor performance at the AFCON tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, where they fell short of expectations, failing to advance past the group stage.

Despite drawing with Egypt and Mozambique, and suffering a defeat against Cape Verde, Ghana’s campaign ended in disappointment after exiting at the group phase for the second consecutive time.

Currently without a head coach after Chris Hughton’s dismissal following the AFCON disappointment, there’s speculation and anticipation surrounding the selection of a new coaching staff.

Recent reports indicate that a list of potential candidates has been forwarded to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Among them, former Ghana coach and Dortmund trainer Otto Addo is emerging as a leading contender for the vacant head coach position.

As Ghana gears up for the forthcoming friendly against Uganda, all eyes are on the Ghana Football Association (GFA), expected to unveil a new technical team soon.

The match against Uganda presents an opportunity for the Black Stars to regroup, rebuild, and redeem themselves following their AFCON setback. It’s a chance for them to rejuvenate their footballing journey and win back the trust and support of their fans.

In September the East African neighbours were awarded the rights to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations – which will be the first time in history that three countries will deliver the continental showpiece.

The joint hosts will all provide one stadium to host CHAN next year, with a fourth venue in Zanzibar, according to Wallace Karia, the president of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa).

BBC Sport Africa understands Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are yet to officially submit which stadiums will be used to the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

“Next year in September, we’ve been given the CHAN hosting rights in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda,” Karia said at an annual general meeting of the Tanzania Football Federation, of which he is also president.

“We will ask Caf to group all the four teams of Cecafa in the draw to create the competition between us.”

Algeria hosted the delayed 2022 CHAN in January and February this year, with the finals going ahead with 17 teams after Morocco withdrew because of a dispute over travel arrangements.

Senegal won the tournament, which is reserved for players who are playing in their domestic leagues.

Affected patients had rashes on the skin which kept widening, before dying in a matter of days. Some had swollen limbs.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has collected fresh skin samples from one of the patients who died at a local general hospital last week.

Its findings are yet to be shared with the public.

Local district health officials say some patients were seeking treatment from traditional healers instead of going to health facilities.

They said it had become difficult to prevent some of the patients from doing so since the disease was unknown.

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Majors Zadock Abor and John Oluka ran away after they came under attack by al-Shabab in Bulo Marer, south of the capital Mogadishu.

At least 50 Ugandan soldiers were killed, officials say.

Uganda is part of the African Union force helping Somalia’s government fight al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate.

The attack on Bulo Marer was one of the deadliest for the African Union force, Atmis, since it launched a new offensive against al-Shabab last year.

Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, criticised his military for its response.

The Ugandan military court sitting in Mogadishu heard that the officers had been given warning of an impending attack but failed to act to deter it.

As al-Shabab gunmen stormed the base, they failed to rally their troops and instead ran away to another base.

Both officers have been dismissed from the army.

Four non-commissioned officers were also found guilty of failing to protect military equipment.

The 19,000-strong African Union force was sent to Somalia in 2007 and helped force al-Shabab out of many cities.

It is scheduled to transfer security responsibilities to Somalia’s government forces and leave the country next year.

However, the offensive against al-Shabab has stalled and the group still controls many rural parts of the country.

An earlier version of this story misidentified one of the officers involved. This has been corrected.

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Both diplomatic missions on Tuesday warned their citizens against attending large gatherings, including worship activities.

They also cautioned against participation in music and cultural festivals, ahead of the popular Nyege Nyege festival on Thursday.

The UK government has also advised its citizens against visits to the Semuliki National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, where a British and South African couple and their Ugandan guide were killed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militant group last month.

The UK then warned its citizens against visiting the popular park.

Uganda has experienced heightened insecurity in recent months.

Authorities said they had foiled two separate attacks on churches by ADF in September and October.

In June, ADF militants killed 42 people at a school in western Uganda, one of the deadliest ADF attacks in the country.

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The singer-turned-politician is the strongest challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, who has held office for almost 40 years.

The 41-year-old has been arrested numerous times and has faced several charges, including treason.

Police denied arresting Bobi Wine, saying he was merely “escorted” home.

“Disregard rumours of his arrest by propagandists,” the police said in a statement.

Bobi Wine, a former pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, made a failed bid for the presidency in 2021 in a tense election against President Museveni, 79.

The election campaign was marked by a crackdown on the opposition and at least 54 people were killed during anti-government demonstrations.

Bobi Wine arrived on Thursday, via the Rwandan capital, Kigali, following a series of international engagements.

His supporters had planned to welcome him at Entebbe International Airport and accompany him to his home about 50 km (30 miles) away in a huge march, but the police said this was illegal.

Bobi Wine said that as soon as he landed, even before he had gone through immigration, “goons grabbed me and dragged me, twisted my hands and bundled me into a waiting private car”.

He later said from his home that he was under house arrest.

A video posted by his National Unity Platform (NUP) on X, formerly Twitter, showed the leader being led away after disembarking from a plane in Entebbe. One of his associates was heard on the video saying “Where are you taking him?”

“The cowardly regime has arrested our president upon arrival at Entebbe Airport. We set out to receive him today, but the panicky regime security could not even allow him into immigration,” said Mathias Mpuuga, the NUP leader in parliament.

Police later fired tear gas to prevent a group of his supporters from reaching his home.

Bobi Wine’s return was eagerly anticipated by members of his party, who view him as a symbol of change for young people in a country ruled for decades by one man.

Last month, police announced they were banning NUP rallies across the country because of public order issues.

Ugandan soldiers and other security forces had been deployed on roads leading to Entebbe airport since early on Thursday morning, as well as outside the NUP offices, and in Kampala’s central business district.

Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said security agents had accompanied Bobi Wine to his residence in Magere, Kasangati.

Ugandan authorities have a long history of using so-called “preventative arrest” to detain opposition leaders, often holding them for several hours before returning them to their homes so as to stymie mass demonstrations.

Elections are more than two years away.

But Bobi Wine has already begun campaigning and wants another go at unseating Mr Museveni.

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Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), praised the “deep commitment” to Afcon expressed by all three of the countries’ heads of state.

“We are very strict in terms of the requirements that we are placing on these countries, both in terms of freedom of movement in and out of the countries – and the support, infrastructure and co-operation,” said Motsepe, speaking in Cairo after announcing the result alongside Morocco’s appointment as 2025 hosts.

“We will be sending teams on an ongoing basis to evaluate the progress being made. The key is that we are absolutely determined to maintain the highest possible standards for African football.”

The Caf president said he would “hold their hand” and promised Afcon 2027 would be “a huge success”.

Challenges ahead for Afcon hosts

Motsepe said he wants Afcon to match the standards of tournaments held by European body Uefa and South American counterparts Conmebol.

By Wednesday evening, the winners’ celebrations had been superseded by a focus on the challenges ahead, according to Rogers Byamukama, a board member of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).

“From now on, we are going to get our hands dirty and work alongside our counterparts in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to ensure the stadiums are ready by December 2025, which is a requirement,” Byamukama told the BBC World Service’s Newsday.

“It is a momentous occasion and we are excited. We are grateful for the opportunity and we look forward to hosting an extremely amazing extravaganza when the world will come to East Africa.”

Caf, which stripped Guinea of the 2025 tournament because of concerns over infrastructure and facilities, also considered bids for the 2027 finals from Egypt, Senegal and a joint entry from Botswana and Zambia, with Algeria withdrawing on the eve of the vote.

The governing body requires bids to propose two stadiums with capacity for 40,000 fans, two capable of accommodating 20,000 fans and two suitable for at least 15,000 supporters.

In Kenya, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba announced plans last week to create a new 50,000-capacity stadium in Nairobi alongside improvements to the capital’s Nyayo National Stadium, the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret and the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, which hosted the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2021.

The country’s president, William Ruto, signed a $59.2m deal with a US foreign aid agency this month to buy electric buses to improve transport in Nairobi.

Kenya was awarded Afcon in 1996 but lost hosting rights because of a lack of readiness, suffering the same fate over the 2018 African Nations Championship as a result of “accumulated delays”.

Ugandan First Lady and Cabinet Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, has said that the home of the national team, the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, which originally closed for renovations in October 2019, will reopen on 30 November and meet Fifa stadium standards.

The country’s state minister for sports, Peter Ogwang, apologised in parliament after the national team played an Afcon 2023 qualifier against Tanzania in Egypt in March because of a lack of available venues in Uganda.

The Akii Bua Stadium in Lira and a new stadium in Hoima could also stage matches, while Tanzania’s venues will include the 60,000-capacity Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium and potentially the Azam Sports Complex, which are in Dar es Salaam.

“It is possible to have a stadium which is good enough, from scratch to completion, in two years,” said Byamukama, adding that the East African bid stood out because of strong transport links, including across the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, which is in Tanzania and Uganda and borders Kenya.

“All of the East African countries have national carriers that should help. It is less than an hour from Nairobi to Entebbe, Entebbe to Salaam and Salaam to Nairobi.

“Uganda uses the port of Mombasa and Salaam. There is a good road network.

“There were plans, even without Caf’s announcement, to extend the standard-gauge railway between Mombasa and Naivasha to Kampala by the end of 2025. The transport is the very best.”

The 2023 tournament will take place in Ivory Coast from 13 January until 11 February 2024. The draw will take place in Abidjan on 12 October at 1900 GMT.

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The  Executive Committee board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the news today in Cairo, Egypt.

“And the country that will host the 2027 AFCON is Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania,” Patrice Motsepe, President of CAF announced.

“The three countries came together because our requirements are very high. I don’t want to mention any specific countries, but I like it when countries come together,” Motsepe added.

Senegal, Botswana, and Egypt were vying to host the 2027 AFCON, while Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have also launched a joint bid for the tournament.

The “PAMOJA Bid,” a joint effort from the aforementioned countries will see Africa’s flagship football tournament return to Eastern Africa for the first time since 1970, when Sudan hosted the tournament for the second time in history.

The committee also announced Morocco as the host of the 2025 AFCON.

Patrice Motsepe celebrated the news saying that the “future of African football has never been brighter.”

He also suggested that an African nation will win the World Cup in the near future.

The incident, which reads like a real-life thriller, unfolded in a quiet suburban neighborhood of Uganda, leaving her with disbelief.

The woman, identified as Madina, told media men of Afrimax English that her husband was infuriated that she traveled back empty handed from Oman where she was working, knowing fully well they were facing financial turmoils.

This led to a rift between her husband, and to top it all off, she got pregnant at a time another offer was in.

On the fateful day, she recounted that her husband invited her out for a romantic sitting under the pretext of mending their rift only for her to return to a pitch dark home.

Upon locating her room, she was greeted with slashes from a machete by unseen men. However, she heard her husband voice, ordering the hit men on how to finish her off.

They continued slashing her in the head and face, as well as cutting off her fingers. It took her playing dead for her husband and the hitmen to end the attack and flee the scene.

It took Madina four months to regain consciousness and over a year to heal from her wounds.

On how her husband was arrested, the mother-of-two narrated that her husband and one of the hitmen had a misunderstanding over cash, which prompted the hitman to turn himself in to the police.

He confessed his role in the crime and tipped the police on all accomplices including Madina’s husband.

He never denied the accusation and was sentenced to four years imprisonment. He was, however, tight-lipped on the motive behind the crime.

The president, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 last week, tweeted on Wednesday that he was free of symptoms, although he has continued to test positive over several days.

He thanked Ugandans who have been praying for him and sending messages for his quick recovery.

He joked that he was now a “veteran of corona”.

His virtual address was a first, because if he was Covid-free, the president would have physically addressed parliament during the reading of the national budget.

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, who delivered the budget speech, told parliament that the country’s economy is expected to continue recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

The size of the economy is now estimated at about $50bn (£39bn) and is projected to grow at a rate of 5.5% in this financial year.

The government aims to create 2.5 million jobs in the next five years, according to the budget speech.

Mr Museveni said that the strategy would continue to focus on infrastructure, industrialisation and value addition to agricultural products for economic growth.

Mr Museveni, who gave a state of the nation of the address earlier on Wednesday, said he had developed a slight cold, prompting him to get tested.

The Permanent Secretary at the Health Ministry, Diana Atwine, said the President had developed mild flu-like symptoms but was in good health and would continue his duties.

She said the President would adhere to standard operating procedures for Covid cases while performing his role.

Uganda had some of the strictest measures in Africa to limit the spread of the virus at the height of the pandemic, including long curfews and closure of schools and businesses.

The country fully reopened in February 2022.

An increasing number of people are being discouraged from seeking vital health services for fear of attacks and punishment, they added.

President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law after parliament watered it down.

It is still among the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda but now anyone convicted faces life imprisonment.

The legislation imposes the death penalty for so-called aggravated cases, which include having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness including HIV.

In a joint statement, three of the world’s leading health campaign groups – the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), UNAids and the Global Fund – said they were deeply concerned about the “harmful impact” of the legislation.

“Uganda’s progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy,” the statement said.

“The stigma and discrimination associated with the passage of the Act has already led to reduced access to prevention as well as treatment services,” it added.

The legislation has also been condemned by Ugandan campaign groups, which are expected to institute court action to annul the legislation on the grounds that it is discriminatory and it violates the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

A similar law was struck down by Uganda’s constitutional court in 2014.

Ugandan rights activist Clare Byarugaba said it was “a very dark and sad day” for the LGBTQ+ community, and all Ugandans, Reuters news agency reported.

“The Ugandan president has today legalised state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia,” the activist added.

Parliamentary speaker Anita Among welcomed Mr Museveni’s decision to sign the bill into law, saying it will “protect the sanctity of the family”.

“We have stood strong to defend the culture, values and aspirations of our people,” she added in a statement posted to Twitter.

The bill was passed in parliament earlier this month, with only one MP opposing it.

The US has previously warned Uganda of possible economic “repercussions” if the legislation came into force.

The US is a major trading partner of Uganda. The East African nation benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which gives it easier access to lucrative US markets.

The US, UNAids and The Global Fund have also played a major role in backing Uganda’s long-standing efforts to curb HIV/Aids.

By 2021, 89% of people living with HIV in Uganda knew their status, more than 92% of them were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those on treatment were virally suppressed, they said in their statement.

“Together as one, we call for the Act to be reconsidered so that Uganda may continue on its path to ensure equitable access to health services and end Aids as a public health threat by 2030,” the statement said.

Retired Colonel Charles Okello Engola, the deputy Minister for Labour, was shot at his home in the capital, Kampala, on Tuesday morning.

It is not yet clear whether there was an argument between the soldier and his boss.

Some eyewitness say the soldier walked around the neighbourhood shooting in the air.

The soldier, who is yet to be officially identified, then shot himself dead minutes later.

Reports say a number of people were injured in the incident. Videos on social media show locals gathering at the scene in shock.

Colonel Engola had previously served as a deputy Minister for Defence.

The three East African neighbours have submitted a joint expression of interest with the Confederation of African Football (Caf), the governing body that organises the biennial tournament.

Three other nations have also registered interest – Algeria, Botswana and Egypt.

Egypt hosted Afcon as recently as 2019, while earlier this year Algeria hosted the African Nations Championship (Chan) – the pan-continental tournament for locally-based players – meaning those two countries are unlikely to struggle when it comes to infrastructure requirements.

However, it is unclear how much investment will be needed to allow either Botswana’s or the joint East African bid to succeed.

Until last week, Botswana’s bid was also due to be a joint one, but Namibia dropped out at the last minute, citing financial concerns.

Kenya has just one stadium approved for international games by Caf, the Nyayo National Stadium in its capital Nairobi.

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The country was stripped of the right to host the 2018 Chan just four months before the finals because several venues were not ready.

In December, the Kenyan government released a statement about its prospective 2027 bid revealing its cabinet had “sanctioned the revitalisation of football as a key cog of our nation’s social fabric” in a bid “to revive the prospects of Kenyan football”.

“This national effort will encompass the rebuilding of the national men’s team and women’s team,” the statement added.

The four bids now have until 23 May to submit final official plans before inspection visits in June and July.

Caf is yet to make a decision on who will host the 2025 Afcon, having stripped Guinea of the right in October due to insufficient preparation.

Ghetto Kids who have performed on several big stages across the world including 2022 FIFA World Cup were performing at Britain’s Got Talent for the first time and indeed left fans and judges, Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Simon Cowell yearning for more.

They pulled off a great act compelling Italian choreographer, ballroom and Latin dancer, and Television personality, Bruno Tonioli hit the Golden Buzzer to give the Ghetto Kids a standing ovation at their very first audition at the competition.

“I was literally exploding. I am telling you, you should be proud of yourself. I can’t wait to see you back,” Bruno Tonioli said.

Cowell revealed that the golden buzzer, which sends the act straight through to the competition’s live semi-final, has never been pressed before during a routine but described the moment as “magical”.

He added: “I think it’s incredible. You’re so young, you’ve flown all the way, no fear, this is an audition we’re going to remember and it was brilliant.

Composed of over 30 kids who live in an orphanage in Uganda, Ghetto Kids and other contestants are again competing for a prize of £250,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the royal family later this year.

Popular Ugandan artiste, Eddy Kenzo has beamed with pride as he watched Triplets Ghetto Kids stun the judges and audience of Britain’s Got Talent with their high-energy dance routine.

The Ugandan artiste could not hide his joy and celebrated the dancing sensations and their leader, Kavuma Dawuda.

Kenzo discovered the young dancers on the streets of Kampala and helped them into international prominence.

The musician took to his Facebook page to share Ghetto Kids’ epic performance that earned them a golden buzzer and wrote: “Dreams come true, we thank God for this milestone, Mr Kavuma Dauda and The Triplets Ghetto Kids mukama mulungi. Viva Uganda viva east Africa viva Africa. God is indeed mighty.”

Watch video below

Explaining his reasons, the overjoyed pastor revealed that the lottery was God sent and a quick way to get him out of poverty as he has been suffering.

He further revealed that he opened up the church as a source of income and not through anointing.

“I must admit I opened this church due to greed but not anointing. I saw how several pastors make money by having large crowds and making false prophecies to attract more,” he opened up.

He stated that operating a church without the calling became so challenging leading to sleepless nights. Burdened with guilt, the pastor chose to close it down and look for other means of earning money.

“As time went on, I realized this was not right; I started having sleepless nights and I would always have weird dreams.

“Before I opened this church, everything was normal on my side. Even without money, I did not have any strange dreams. So I decided to abolish this and look for other ways of making money” he said.

The pastor stated that he tried out his luck with gambling, putting a whooping sum of Ush1 million as stake.

“I had to pay for these games and surprisingly it took me about a month to receive them. They told me they had issues with their system and the process of securing games takes time. I almost gave up and called them scammers but they contacted me with the details and wow! I went full swing and got an odd of 700,” he said.

It is then that he stopped going to church when he had discovered that he made way more money in gambling than he had ever raised operating a church or his entire life.

The new legislation constitutes a further crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in a country where same-sex relations were already illegal – punishable by life imprisonment. It targets an array of activities, and includes a ban on promoting and abetting homosexuality as well as conspiracy to engage in homosexuality, Reuters reported.

According to the bill, the death penalty can be invoked for cases involving “aggravated homosexuality” – a broad term used in the legislation to describe sex acts committed without consent or under duress, against children, people with mental or physical disabilities, by a “serial offender,” or involving incest.

“A person who commits the offense of aggravated homosexuality and is liable, on conviction to suffer death,” read the amendments, which were presented by the chairperson for legal and parliamentary affairs Robina Rwakoojo.

Opposition lawmaker Asuman Basalirwa introduced the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2023 to parliament, saying it aims to “protect our church culture; the legal, religious and traditional family values of Ugandans from the acts that are likely to promote sexual promiscuity in this country.”

“The objective of the bill was to establish a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to protect traditional family values, our diverse culture, our faiths, by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex and the promotion or recognition of sexual relations between persons of the same sex,” Basalirwa said on Tuesday.

Lawmaker Fox Odoi-Oywelowo spoke out against the bill, saying it “contravenes established international and regional human rights standards” as it “unfairly limits the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ persons.”

Rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned earlier this month that the law would violate Ugandans’ rights.

“One of the most extreme features of this new bill is that it criminalizes people simply for being who they are as well as further infringing on the rights to privacy, and freedoms of expression and association that are already compromised in Uganda,” HRW Uganda researcher Oryem Nyeko said in a statement that called on politicians in the country to “stop targeting LGBT people for political capital.”

The bill is expected to eventually go to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for assent. Museveni last week derided homosexuals as “deviants.”

Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is deeply entrenched in the highly conservative and religious East African nation.

Uganda made headlines in 2009 when it introduced an anti-homosexuality bill that included a death sentence for gay sex.

The country’s lawmakers passed a bill in 2014, but they replaced the death penalty clause with a proposal for life in prison. That law was ultimately struck down.

The result was a true reflection of the two sides who had a couple of chances in front of goal but were wasteful on several occasions and unlucky on others.

Adam Bossu Nzali had the game’s first real chance at goal with a well-taken freekick on target, but it went straight into Ugandan goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi’s hands in the 10th minute.

On the other end of the pitch, Cranes playmaker Moses Waiswa had the same opportunity to give Uganda the lead but he sent his attempt into the stands much to the frustration of his colleagues on the bench.

Nzali, who was red-hot with attacking zeal down the left side, made a fast-paced run into the box but sent his shot into the side of the net as the Ugandans hi-fived each other for avoiding the goal that could have given the Congolese the lead.

The midfield had a busy outing on the night with both sets of players trying to control the tempo of the game which also turned out to be physical but it was the Congolese who had the most ball possession – 53%.

In the second half, Uganda came close to finding the back of the net but Gift Fred’s header hit the post and was cleared by the Congolese defence.

Congolese substitute Jean-Marc Makusu almost scored within five minutes of coming on but his attempt went into the side of the net and minutes later forced Alionzi to pick up the ball from his powerful shot.

Both coaches Otis Ngoma and Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic made necessary changes but their efforts did not alter the result of the game.

DR Congo and Uganda sit joint top of Group B ahead of the Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal fixture at the same venue.

Moses Hassim Magogo, who is also a member of the Ugandan parliament, said pulling out of the tournament – which is scheduled to begin in Algeria on 13 January – was “sad”.

“We are left with no further option but to withdraw from CHAN finals because the [Ministry of Finance] has not provided the funds as appropriated by parliament,” he wrote on Twitter.

“The sanctions to Uganda will affect the future if we don’t take the hard decision now. Sorry for the players and coaches who qualified the team but it is the moment to face the reality.”

Next year’s CHAN is due to feature 18 teams so if Uganda do pull out it will leave organisers the Confederation of African Football (Caf) needing a replacement at short notice – or with 17 teams in an already unusual format.

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Caf has been contacted for comment.

The finals, which are for locally-based players, are set to have five groups; three of which will have four nations, while the other two will be comprised of just three teams.

It means the top two from the four-team groups will be joined in the quarter-finals by the winners of the other two pools.

Uganda were drawn in a four-team group alongside hosts DR Congo, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Title-holders Morocco will be targeting winning the CHAN trophy for the third successive time, while Madagascar will make an historic first appearance at the finals.

CHAN 2022 group draw

• Group A: Algeria (hosts), Libya, Ethiopia, Mozambique.
• Group B: DR Congo, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Senegal.
• Group C: Morocco (holders), Sudan, Madagascar, Ghana.
• Group D: Mali, Angola, Mauritania.
• Group E: Cameroon, Congo, Niger.

Top two from Groups A, B and C and winners of Groups D and E qualify for quarter-finals.

All movement in and out of the Mubende and Kassanda districts will be halted, Museveni said in a televised address on Saturday – although cargo trucks will be allowed to enter and leave the areas.

Curfews will also be imposed. Places of worship, bars, gyms, saunas and other entertainment venues will close but schools will remain open, he added.

“Given the gravity of the problem and to prevent further spread and protect lives and livelihoods, the government is taking extra measures that require action from all of us,” Museveni said.

The Ugandan health ministry will also increase contact tracing and assistance to local health facilities.

Ebola is a rare but deadly disease. It spreads through direct contact with body fluids and is not transmitted through airborne viral particles, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.

It has no cure, and there is no approved vaccine, although there is a concerted effort to create one.

Speaking at a media briefing earlier this month, World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the vaccines used successfully to curb recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not effective against the type of Ebola virus now circulating in Uganda.

“However, several vaccines are in various stages of development against this virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in Uganda in the coming weeks, pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government,” said Tedros.

Uganda has experienced four Ebola outbreaks. The deadliest left more than 200 people dead in 2000.

Museveni declared an Ebola outbreak in September after a case of the relatively rare Sudan strain was confirmed and cases began to rise across districts.

The latest outbreak has so far killed 29 amid 63 recorded cases.

According to the CDC, a person infected with Ebola “is not contagious until symptoms appear (including fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, and unexplained bleeding).”

The virus spreads through direct contact with body fluids and is not transmitted through airborne viral particles, the CDC says.

The suspect has been identified as one Dorothy Nabulime, a 22-year-old mother-of-three.

She was arrested after the viral video sparked global outrage.

The suspect was caught on footage beating the victim repeatedly with a shoe while hurling unprintable names at her.

Then, the victim falls out of the basin, onto the verandah, and down onto the ground, headfirst – but the suspect continued to beat her vigorously.

She is, at a point in time, heard yelling at the victim to stand up and bathe.

The Ugandan police in a tweet revealed that Dorothy has been arrested and will be presented before a court on Monday.

Meanwhile, the victim has been handed to close relatives pending further investigations.

There has been calls for Nabulime Dorothy to be taken for mental health check-up and rehabilitation.

The exercise began last week and targets more than 10,000 members of the force fighting against the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) rebels.

So far, 6,200 Ugandan soldiers have been vaccinated.

The Ugandan army’s director of public health, Dr Francis Xavier Bakehena says the response from the troops has been good because they are aware of the threat Ebola poses.

The exercise will also cover soldiers manning border points with the DR Congo.

The World Health Organization has provided 12,000 vaccines from Merck. An additional 10,000 from Johnson and Johnson will also be available in weeks.

Front-line workers like health workers, customs and immigration officials will be vaccinated in the second phase of the exercise.

DR Congo confirmed a case of Ebola in Beni district, North Kivu province two weeks ago, six weeks after an outbreak was confirmed in Equateur province.

No imported case has been reported in Uganda so far but authorities have since stepped up surveillance and put 21 districts that border the DR Congo on high alert.

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The internet will be used by government offices during working hours and will be available to the public past working hours and during weekends.

The government had already installed hotspots in regional cities and the capital, Kampala, although critics say the internet is unstable.

The additional hotspots will be installed in every location where the government’s national backbone infrastructure exists.

The project is part of the Uganda Digital Acceleration Programme.

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The deaths are said to have been registered between Saturday and Sunday in Madi-Okollo district.

Several others, including one trader who was selling the gin known as City 5 Pineapple Flavoured Gin, have been hospitalised with suspected poisoning.

It is not clear what the ingredients in the drink are, but “demineralised water, extra neutral alcohol and pineapple flavour” are listed on the bottle.

A regional police spokesperson said that samples of the gin have been collected and will be submitted to the government chemist to conduct tests.

Four suspects have been arrested, and the cottage factory where the gin was being manufactured closed, as investigations continue.

Deaths from adulterated alcohol are common in Uganda. In 2010, at least 80 people died in south-western Uganda after drinking alcohol laced with methanol, according to authorities.

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While some people would give anything to have one child, let alone two, others have no problem abandoning their offspring. Case in point, a Ugandan man who couldn’t cope with the fact that his wife recently gave birth to their fifth set of twins.

Nalongo Gloria never underwent IVF treatments to get pregnant, yet she can’t stop having twins.

The Ugandan woman recently brought her ninth and tenth children into this world, which reportedly made her husband, Ssalongo pack up his things and leave, saying that “it wasn’t normal” and that he couldn’t take care of her and their children anymore.

“When I got pregnant with twins again, my man said this was too much for him and told me to go home,” Nalongo Gloria said in an interview.

“Where he was sending me, I didn’t have their numbers anymore because I came to Kampala to work as a house girl. He told me that if I can’t produce one child, he can’t take care of me.”

One day, when she came home, the woman realized that her husband had packed up his belongings and left. She hasn’t heard from him since and is struggling to take care of her children. Still, she doesn’t regret anything and places her faith in God.

“I don’t regret giving birth to all these children. I know their father doesn’t like them, but I can’t abandon them. Despite the challenges, I will never abandon my kids. I know God will provide,” Gloria said. “I have suffered, but God knows best.”

Nalongo currently lives with seven of her children, after the eldest pair of twins left the nest, and one of her other children tragically died. They face an uncertain future, as the landlord recently told the woman he no longer wants her or her “baggage”.

Nalongo’s unusually fertile womb reminds us of Uganda’s most fertile woman who made international headlines for giving birth to no less than 44 children by age 40.

The health ministry said the bill was designed to tackle emerging health threats like haemorrhagic fevers, and wanted any rule-breakers to be fined up to $1,045 (£875) or face a six-month jail sentence.

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But MPs raised concerns about the rights of individuals to choose, and questioned who would take liability for vaccine side-effects.

Uganda is currently struggling to meet its target of vaccinating 22 million people – about half its population – against Covid-19.

Routine vaccination of children against communicable diseases remains mandatory but in the cases of new emerging diseases, the permission of their parents is required.

The women were demonstrating over the small upkeep money that their husbands give them, lack of appreciation while others said that they also deserved trips to Dubai and other gifts.

The women carried placards with various inscriptions expressing their grievances. Some of the writings read: “Wives also deserve trips to Dubai, our husbands are no longer eating at home.”

According to Daily Monitor, the women have been arrested and detained at the Central Police Station in Kampala. 

Uganda Police Force said the demonstration was illegal. 

Gen Kainerugaba – who is the commander of Uganda’s land forces – tweeted that “the majority of mankind (that are non-white) support Russia’s stand in Ukraine”.

“Putin is absolutely right!” he added.

“When the USSR parked nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba in 1962, the West was ready to blow up the world over it. Now when Nato does the same they expect Russia to do differently.”

The majority of mankind (that are non-white) support Russia’s stand in Ukraine.Putin is absolutely right! When the USSR parked nuclear armed missiles in Cuba in 1962 the West was ready to blow up the world over it. Now when NATO does the same they expect Russia to do differently?

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) February 28, 2022

Along with Sudan’s Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’ Dagolo, Gen Kainerugaba is the only senior military officer in Africa to publicly voice support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He is rumoured to be a possible successor to his 77-year-old father, who has been in power since 1986.

The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has condemned Russia’s invasion, while the African Union called on Moscow to respect Ukraine’s “territorial integrity”.

South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Gen Kainerugaba also retweeted prominent Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda, who said that even “an amateur in international power politics can see that Moscow can never allow Ukraine’s accession to Nato & EU, because it poses an existential threat to Russia!

“Why push for it?”

After many hours of waiting for him to hit the stage in vain, fans got out of hand and started a huge fight. He later surfaced and staged a good performance but his fans’ anger has forced him to apologize by sweeping a number of streets in Masaka City.

On top of that, the singer took to his Instagram page to ask for forgiveness: “To all my fans in Masaka, I sincerely apologize for making it late for the show last night. I understand why you ran out of patience and the situation went out of hand. It was my fault and I am truly sorry,” he wrote.

“I have swept a few streets with my friends downtown Masaka today to remind you that I am your son and you mean the world to me. I can’t be anything without you. I hope my apology will bring you closer to me. I am so sorry for hurting you. Forgive me please,” he added.

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A post shared by King Of The East (@pallasomusic)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by King Of The East (@pallasomusic)

Pallaso is one of the hottest stars in the Ugandan music industry. He’s been crowned the male Artiste of the Year in a number of awards he was nominated for.

The Princesses went into the game on the back of a 2:1 advantage from the first leg encounter in Uganda.  Ben Fokuo’s team started the game in fine form with a decent build-up which gave them an early lead through skipper Evelyn Badu in the 22nd minute.

Salamatu Abdullai, who had many clear chances to increase the lead, finally scored in the 26^th minute.

After recess, Ben Fokuo brought on Rahama Jafar in the 56th minute and her introduction proved very useful as she scored in the 82nd minute to give Ghana a 3-0 lead.

Salamatu Abdullai gave a lovely pass to attacker, Doris Boaduwaa to head home the fourth for the Princesses. The Young Crested Cranes of Uganda pushed for a consolation but were punished in the 90th minute when the referee awarded a penalty to the Princesses of Ghana.

Doris Boaduwaa made no mistake by scoring from the spot – her second on the day to make it 5:0 for the Princesses.

This result puts the Princesses into the final round of qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as they progressed on a 7-1 aggregate scoreline setting the stage for a final showdown against Ethiopia. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is slated for Costa Rica in August 2022.