In a compelling international friendly held in Egypt on Friday, the Uganda Cranes, led by coach Paul Joseph Put, secured a resounding victory over Kuwait. Debutants Ronald Ssekiganda and Alex Kitata emerged as the heroes of the match, each contributing a goal on either side of the half to guide Uganda to success.
Ronald Ssekiganda, a key player for SC Villa in the Uganda Premier League, wasted no time in making an impact on his debut. Just ten minutes into the game, Ssekiganda found the back of the net, putting the Cranes in the lead. The swift and impressive start set the tone for Uganda’s dominance in the match.
With only five minutes left until full-time, Alex Kitata, who has been a standout performer for BUL FC in the league, extended Uganda’s advantage. His lethal form in the domestic league translated seamlessly onto the international stage, adding another goal to secure the victory.
The success of the fully local-based Cranes team highlighted the effectiveness of Paul Joseph Put’s tactics in his third game in charge. Having won two out of three games since taking over from Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, who was relieved of his duties after a failed Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, Put showcased the potential of his squad.
Coach Put made strategic decisions by giving multiple debuts to players like Kitata, Ssekiganda, Ramz Kawooya, Patrick Kakande, and left-back Nicholas Mwere. This injection of fresh talent proved fruitful and showcased the depth of Uganda’s football talent pool.
As Uganda revels in this international friendly victory, the team now looks forward to their next competitive engagement scheduled for June 5, where they will host Botswana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers..
