Uganda Cranes secured a 1-0 victory over Libya on Tuesday night at Hoima City Stadium, with Arnold Vula scoring on his debut to give the hosts their first win of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Vula headed home Allan Okello’s free-kick in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to settle a closely contested Group H encounter.
The result moved Uganda to four points from two matches and put the Cranes at the top of Group H. They had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Tunisia.
Uganda were tested early by the visitors, with veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango making crucial interventions to deny Libya forward Ezzeddin Elmaremi.
Onyango saved from Elmaremi in the 23rd minute after Libya had threatened to take the lead.
Uganda gradually grew into the match, with Allan Okello and Nathan Asiimwe combining on the right before Vula provided the decisive moment just before the interval.
The Cranes held their advantage after the break despite pressure from Libya.
The visitors came close to an equaliser in the 75th minute when Elmaremi missed from close range with the Ugandan goal exposed.
Uganda coach Paul Put made three second-half changes, bringing on Kevin Owusu Boateng for Vula in the 59th minute, Denis Omedi for Okello in the 78th and Allan Oyirwoth for Rogers Mato in the 87th.
The win also gave Uganda a first competitive victory at the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium.
Vula, who plays for Belgian side Beerschot, was making his Uganda debut. Put later praised the forward’s ability to produce goals from limited opportunities.
“He is a kind of player who can score a goal from nothing,” Put said.
The Cranes are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON finals as one of the three co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania. The Group H qualifiers will determine the additional team from the group that advances to the tournament.
Uganda’s next Group H fixtures are against Botswana in November, with the Cranes scheduled to host Botswana in Hoima on November 11 before travelling to Gaborone three days later.
Following the victory, FUFA said Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba gave the Cranes Shs30 million.
The money was delivered by the Head of the Chairman’s Office, MP Daudi Kabanda, and handed to Uganda captain Denis Onyango.