A Landmark Achievement for Ugandan Women's Football: Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC Crowned 2026 CECAFA Zonal Champions After Historic Victory Over Kenya Police Bullets

KIGALI, RWANDA — Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC have been crowned champions of the 2026 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers after defeating Kenya Police Bullets FC 1-0 after extra time in a tense final played at Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda on Monday.

Agnes Nabukenya emerged as the heroine for the Ugandan champions, scoring the decisive goal in the 100th minute to hand Kawempe Muslim a historic regional title and secure qualification for the CAF Women's Champions League finals.

The closely contested final had ended goalless after 90 minutes, with both Kawempe Muslim and Kenya Police Bullets failing to break through during regulation time.

However, the deadlock was finally broken in extra time when Nabukenya found the back of the net in the 100th minute, sending the Ugandan side into celebration and ultimately sealing a memorable 1-0 victory.

The triumph saw Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC become the first Ugandan club to win the regional CECAFA championship, marking a major milestone for women's football in Uganda.

Perfect Tournament Record

Kawempe Muslim's journey to the title was equally impressive, with the club completing the tournament with a perfect record.

The Ugandan side won all four of their matches, scoring an impressive 13 goals while conceding none throughout the entire competition.

The defensive discipline and attacking efficiency demonstrated by the team underlined their dominance in the regional qualifiers and made their final victory over Kenya Police Bullets the culmination of an outstanding campaign.

Despite facing a determined Kenyan side in the final, Kawempe Muslim remained resilient and composed, keeping another clean sheet before eventually finding the winning goal in extra time.

The victory earned the club the tournament's top prize of $100,000, in addition to the prestigious CECAFA regional crown.

Ticket to the CAF Women's Champions League

By winning the 2026 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC have earned the right to represent the CECAFA region at the CAF Women's Champions League finals.

Their qualification gives Uganda representation on the continental stage and provides the players with an opportunity to compete against some of Africa's strongest women's football clubs.

The achievement is also expected to boost the profile of women's football in Uganda, particularly for young female footballers who continue to look to successful local clubs for inspiration.

Kawempe Muslim's unbeaten run and historic triumph demonstrate the growing competitiveness of Ugandan women's football at the regional level.

Nabukenya the Hero 

Agnes Nabukenya's 100th-minute strike will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the defining moments in Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC's history.

After 90 minutes of intense football without a goal, the decisive moment arrived in extra time when Nabukenya broke the deadlock and gave the Ugandan champions the advantage. 

Her goal proved to be enough to separate the two sides, as Kawempe Muslim successfully protected their lead until the final whistle.

The celebrations that followed reflected the significance of the moment, not only for the club but also for Ugandan football as a whole.

A Landmark Achievement for Ugandan Women's Football

Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC's victory represents more than just a tournament triumph.

As the first Ugandan side to win the CECAFA regional championship, the club has written a new chapter in the country's women's football history.

The team's perfect record of four victories, 13 goals scored and zero conceded highlights the scale of their dominance throughout the tournament.

With the CECAFA trophy now secured, attention will turn to the CAF Women's Champions League finals, where Kawempe Muslim will carry the hopes of Uganda and the wider CECAFA region onto the continental stage.

For now, however, the spotlight belongs to the newly crowned regional champions, whose historic victory in Kigali was sealed by Agnes Nabukenya's extra-time goal.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC are CECAFA champions, and Uganda has a new milestone to celebrate in women's football.