KIGALI, Rwanda — Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC have become the first Ugandan club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League after defeating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the CECAFA qualifying final in Kigali on Monday.
Captain Agnes Nabukenya scored the decisive goal in extra time to give the six-time Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League champions a historic victory and book Uganda’s place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The victory completes an unbeaten campaign for Kawempe, who also went through the CECAFA qualifiers without conceding a goal.
The final was a tight contest, with neither side able to break the deadlock during the opening 90 minutes.
Kawempe had an early opportunity when Nabukenya was awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area after the Kenya Police Bullets goalkeeper handled the ball outside her box.
The Ugandan captain’s effort, however, failed to beat the defence as both teams went into halftime level.
Kawempe increased the pressure after the break as they searched for the goal that would take them to the continental tournament.
Jovia Nakagolo came close in the 75th minute, but the Police Bullets defence held firm.
With neither team able to find a breakthrough in normal time, the match went into extra time with a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League at stake.
Nabukenya delivers historic goal
Kawempe finally found the breakthrough in the 100th minute.
Anita Namata headed the ball into the six-yard area, where Nabukenya reacted quickly and fired past the Police Bullets goalkeeper.
The goal changed everything.
Kenya Police Bullets pushed for an equaliser, but Kawempe held on to claim a 1-0 victory and a place in African women’s club football’s biggest competition.
The result marks a major step for both Kawempe Muslim and Ugandan women’s football.
No Ugandan club had previously reached the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Nabukenya, Namwanje take individual awards
Kawempe’s dominance was also reflected in the individual awards.
Goalkeeper Saidat Namwanje was named Best Goalkeeper of the CECAFA qualifiers, while captain Agnes Nabukenya was named Most Valuable Player.
Nabukenya’s tournament ended with perhaps the most important contribution of all: the goal that sent Kawempe to the continental stage.
The achievement adds another chapter to the rise of Kawempe Muslim, one of the most successful clubs in Uganda’s women’s game.
The club has won six Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women’s Super League titles, beginning with its first championship in 2015.
That domestic dominance has now translated into continental qualification.
For years, Ugandan women’s football has had to watch continental competitions from the outside. Kawempe have now broken that barrier.
Their qualification also reflects the growing strength of the FUFA Women’s Super League, which has increasingly provided a competitive platform for women’s clubs and players.
Kawempe’s campaign in Kigali offered another indication of that progress: they remained unbeaten, kept clean sheets throughout the qualifiers and defeated a Kenyan side in the final when the pressure was greatest.
The challenge now becomes considerably bigger.
The CAF Women’s Champions League brings together the best clubs from across Africa, meaning Kawempe will face opponents with greater continental experience and resources.
But that is a problem for another day.
For now, Kawempe Muslim have already changed the record books.
Uganda finally has a club on Africa’s biggest women’s football stage.