CAF Women Champions League: Kawempe Muslim’s African Dream lies at shs400m Budget, Will Government Answer the Call like did to Kitara?

By Kayiira Jackson 

The National Council of Sports (NCS) is considering the possibility of extending government financial support to Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC as the Ugandan champions prepare for their historic appearance at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

Kawempe Muslim became the first Ugandan club to qualify for the continental competition after defeating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers final at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Monday.

Captain Agnes Nabukenya scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute of extra time, sending the six-time Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League champions onto the continental stage for the first time.

Speaking to Voice of Bugerere after the conclusion of the FIFA Women’s Football Strategy Workshop at Jevine Hotel Lubaga on Tuesday, NCS Assistant General Secretary in charge of technical matters, Milton Chebet, revealed that government support for the club could be explored.

“Government funding to sports in the country is in different ways. For instance, the government is now funding the clubs that are representing the country at the international tournaments, and we have seen this through Kitara. This is something we can engage and see the possibility because anything is possible,” Chebet said.

His remarks come at a time when Kawempe Muslim faces a major financial challenge ahead of its continental debut.

According to the club’s accounting office, the estimated budget required for the CAF Women’s Champions League campaign stands at approximately Shs400 million.

With the finals expected later this year, the club and its primary sponsor, Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, have less than two months to mobilise the required resources for preparations, travel, accommodation, player welfare and other competition-related expenses.

The financial burden has consequently shifted attention towards the government, with calls growing for NCS to consider supporting the historic representatives.

Kawempe’s appeal comes shortly after the government extended financial assistance to Kitara FC for their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

The Hoima-based club received Shs150 million through NCS, after initially seeking Shs200 million, to support its preparations and participation in continental football.

That intervention has provided a precedent for Ugandan clubs seeking government assistance when representing the country on the continental stage.

Kawempe Muslim could now become the next beneficiary if the engagement between the club and NCS produces a positive outcome.

Kawempe’s qualification represents a significant milestone for Ugandan women’s football.

The club dominated the CECAFA qualifiers, winning all four matches without conceding a goal. They scored 13 goals during the tournament, including an 8-0 victory over Djibouti’s FC Ujeco, before eliminating Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 3-0 in the semi-final.

The final against Kenya Police Bullets was eventually settled by Nabukenya’s extra-time strike, giving Uganda its first-ever club representative at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

The achievement also makes Kawempe one of the early confirmed teams for the 2026 continental finals.

As of September 4, CAF has confirmed three clubs for the 2026 final tournament:

AS FAR — Morocco: Qualified automatically as the defending champions.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies — South Africa: Qualified after winning the COSAFA zonal qualifiers, defeating Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 in the final.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies — Uganda: Qualified after winning the CECAFA zonal qualifiers by defeating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0.

CAF says the final tournament will feature the defending champions, the six zonal champions and a representative of the host country. The remaining zonal representatives from UNAF, WAFU A, WAFU B and UNIFFAC, as well as the host-country representative, are yet to be confirmed.