KAMPALA— Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC), one of Uganda’s most storied football institutions, has pulled the plug on head coach Abdallah Mubiru’s tenure after a season that never quite lived up to expectations. In a decision that may feel inevitable to many fans, but still heavy with emotion, the club announced the sacking of Mubiru following a string of inconsistent performances in the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League season.
Mubiru, a familiar face at Lugogo, returned to the club in November 2023 with the hopes of rekindling past glories. He had previously managed KCCA FC in 2014 and had a respected résumé that included stints at Proline FC, Vipers SC, Police FC, and involvement with the Uganda Cranes. His latest return was seen as a homecoming, fueled by both nostalgia and high expectations. He signed a two-year deal to restore the club’s competitive edge. But football, as it often does, told a different story.
At the time of his dismissal, KCCA FC sat sixth in the league standings with 34 points from 22 games. Mubiru’s record—9 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses—might not seem catastrophic at face value. Yet, it failed to meet the lofty standards of a club still trying to reclaim its dominance. The team scored 28 goals and conceded 18—respectable stats, but not enough to silence growing unrest in the fanbase or the boardroom.
Ironically, Mubiru’s exit came just as the team was showing signs of a mild resurgence, having won three of their last five matches. But a recent loss appeared to be the final straw in a turbulent season. Despite a 56% win rate across 48 games in the league and cup competitions—27 wins, 11 draws, and 10 losses—it was consistency, or the lack thereof, that proved fatal.
The decision wasn’t his alone. In a measured press statement, KCCA FC confirmed a mutual parting of ways with both Mubiru and his assistant, Kefa Kisala. The club extended its appreciation for their “dedication, hard work, and commitment” and wished them well in their future endeavors.
In the wake of the shakeup, the club turned inward. Assistant coach and former fitness boss Jackson Magera Kaddu was appointed interim head coach. Kaddu is now tasked with steadying a ship that has drifted too far off its course in recent years.
For longtime followers of KCCA FC, Mubiru’s exit is just the latest chapter in a post-Mike Mutebi era that has felt increasingly unmoored. Since Mutebi’s dramatic departure in March 2021—a manager who delivered three league titles, two Uganda Cups, and a CECAFA crown—the club has struggled to find footing. Morley Byekwaso stepped in briefly but resigned citing indiscipline and a toxic dressing room. Portuguese tactician Sergio Traguil followed, only to be let go within five months amid reports of discord with senior players.
Mubiru’s return was supposed to be different. With his deep ties to the club—both as a title-winning player in the 1990s and a homegrown coach—there was hope he could bring calm and conviction to a club that’s long been adrift. Yet, in the high-stakes world of Ugandan football, sentiment only goes so far.
Now, as KCCA FC begins yet another search for a permanent coach, one question looms: can this once-dominant club find the right formula to reignite its glory? Or will it remain stuck in a cycle of false starts and near-misses?
Only time—and perhaps a bold new vision—will tell.
