Social Media War Erupts Over New Faces of Naturalisation in Uganda Cranes

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) confirmed nine new faces in the Uganda Cranes squad set to face Libya on Tuesday, September 29, in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Hoima City Stadium, sparking mixed reactions among Ugandans.

Naturalisation is a common practice in international football, with several national teams having benefited from players who acquire eligibility through citizenship or family ties. However, the strategy has attracted criticism in Uganda, with some fans and journalists questioning its implementation and the opportunities available to locally developed players.

The nine players already with the Uganda Cranes in Hoima are Kingdom Osayi, Kelvin Owusu Boateng, Vula Arnold, Souleyman Diaby, Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi, Akpan David Udoh, Abdoulaye Sissako, Noble Okello and Nathan Asiimwe.

Nathan Asiimwe and Noble Okello have already featured for the Cranes, having played in the recent 1-1 draw against Tunisia, with Asiimwe providing an assist.

While some Ugandans believe the strategy is misguided or poorly implemented, others argue that naturalisation should be embraced if it helps the national team achieve success.

What Journalists Are Saying

Martin Kaddu – Senior Journalist at NBS

“If the player has both patents non-Ugandans, no. When we expose him and he deserves a fat deal who benefits? How are we exposing our own on the biggest platform?”

Ronnie Santos – Senior Journalist and Football Agent

“Many African countries now recruit players who were born and developed in Europe but are eligible through their parents or grandparents. Countries such as Morocco, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire have all benefited significantly from diaspora players.

“At the 2025 AFCON, about 29% of all players were born outside Africa, with most born in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, or England. Comoros had almost their entire squad born in Europe, while Morocco, Algeria, DR Congo, and Equatorial Guinea also relied heavily on Europe-born players.

“So it should not be a problem for uganda to follow up their players.”

Kabenge Yusuf – NBS Sports Journalist

“If they are not good enough to be among Nigeria’s atleast top 100, what makes them good for Uganda. If you’re taking that route then get very good players not test drive players.

“I don’t buy this crap, if some one is not Ugandan then they are not Ugandan. This should stop. I can’t see my self support the Cranes with players who don’t even have Ugandan names. Forced connections.

“Remember this tax payers money we are talking about.

“Billions spent to bring in mercenaries to the cranes. Patrick Kaddu is not different from him.”

A Strategy Aimed at Strengthening the Cranes

With mixed reactions continuing over the naturalisation strategy, the new faces in the squad, alongside those expected to join later, will be under pressure to deliver strong performances and respond to their critics on the pitch.

However, the broader objective of FUFA’s strategy is not to bring in 200 foreign-born players but to identify eligible players who can strengthen the national team and help Uganda Cranes compete among Africa’s best.

Achieving that goal will require time, a strong system involving the federation’s leadership and technical team, and other supporting factors.

If FUFA were to identify 200 players and just five of them went on to make a lasting contribution to the Cranes over several years, the initiative could still be considered a success. Such an approach would, however, require sustained funding and effective scouting to identify players capable of making a meaningful difference.