By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Uganda are quietly putting together a football project that deserves more attention ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. While much of the conversation around the tournament has centred on the preparations of the three co-hosts, Uganda’s growing interest in players of Ugandan descent playing outside the country is beginning to tell an interesting story about their ambitions.
The expected arrival of Danel Jordan Dongmo ahead of the Cranes’ double-header against Botswana is the latest example. The former Cameroon U23 international, who currently plays for Portuguese Primeira Liga side Nacional, is set to add another option to Paul Put’s midfield.
Born in Douala to a Cameroonian father, Fidele Dongmo, and a Ugandan mother, Yuliana Kafuko, the midfielder has an interesting football background. He previously represented Cameroon at U23 level, but his Ugandan heritage gives him an opportunity to pursue a senior international career with the Cranes.
Dongmo’s possible arrival is not an isolated development. Over the last two years, Uganda have increasingly turned their attention to the diaspora, identifying players with Ugandan connections who have developed in different football environments. It is a recruitment strategy that has brought several interesting names into the national-team conversation, including Elio Capradossi, Baba Alhassan, Abdoulaye Sissako, Nathan Asiimwe, Noble Okello, Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi, Souleyman Diaby, Akpan David Udoh, Arnold Vula, Kelvin Owusu Boateng and Kingdom Osayi.
These players have different backgrounds and football journeys, but they share something important: their eligibility gives Uganda access to talent that might otherwise have remained outside the country’s national-team structure. Some have developed in European academies, others have played professional football in different leagues, while several have represented other countries at youth level.
For Uganda, the idea is straightforward. Why limit the national team’s options to players who have grown up and played their football at home when there is a wider pool of eligible talent available around the world?
Of course, recruiting players is one thing; building a competitive national team is another. The real test will be how quickly these footballers adapt to the Cranes, understand one another and fit into the coach’s plans. But there is little doubt that widening the talent pool gives Uganda more options and creates greater competition for places.
And this is where Paul Put becomes particularly important.
The Belgian coach brings considerable African football experience to the project. He knows the demands of international football on the continent and has worked in several African countries, including Gambia, Guinea, Kenya and Congo. More importantly, he has already demonstrated that he can take a team beyond expectations at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In 2013, Put guided Burkina Faso to the AFCON final in South Africa. The Stallions eventually lost 1-0 to Nigeria, but their remarkable run remains a reminder of what organisation, discipline and a clear football identity can achieve at this level.
Uganda will need those qualities in 2027. They will be playing in front of their own supporters, but home advantage alone will not be enough against the continent’s established football nations. They need a team that can compete, handle pressure and make the most of important moments.
There were encouraging signs during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Uganda finished second in Group G with 18 points, behind Algeria, who collected 25 points. Mozambique also finished on 18 points, with Uganda taking second place on goal difference.
It was a difficult group, particularly with Algeria involved. The North Africans have an abundance of talent, including players competing at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Yet Uganda remained in the contest and pushed hard for a place in the next qualifying stage. They ultimately missed out on the intercontinental play-offs, but their campaign showed that the Cranes are capable of challenging stronger opposition.
That progress should not be overlooked. For a country preparing to host an AFCON, having a national team that is becoming increasingly competitive is just as important as building stadiums and improving infrastructure.
Uganda also have something to build on from their experience at the 2024 African Nations Championship, played in August 2025. Alongside Kenya and Tanzania, they hosted the competition, and all three countries progressed beyond the group stage.
Uganda’s campaign was particularly encouraging. After losing their opening match 3-0 to Algeria, the Cranes responded with victories over Guinea and Niger before drawing 3-3 with South Africa to secure a historic first appearance in the CHAN quarter-finals. Their journey ended with a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Senegal, but the experience was valuable for both the team and the country.
It was a reminder of what playing at home can mean to a national team. The supporters were behind the Cranes, the atmosphere was lively and Uganda had the opportunity to test themselves against some of the continent’s best home-based players.
The next challenge is much bigger, but the CHAN experience has given the country a useful starting point.
Uganda are not working alone, of course. Their co-hosts are also making moves that suggest the three countries are determined to deliver a memorable tournament.
Kenya, for instance, are looking beyond football results and placing considerable emphasis on tourism and international visibility. The country has the opportunity to use AFCON 2027 to showcase its attractions to visitors from across Africa and beyond.
The development of the 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi is another major part of that ambition. The facility is scheduled for inauguration in January 2027, with Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam expected to feature in its opening football event. Having two internationally recognised clubs associated with the stadium’s opening would provide Kenya with an important opportunity to attract global attention.
Tanzania, meanwhile, are also pressing ahead with their preparations. From infrastructure to tournament organisation, the country is determined to play its part in making the joint hosting arrangement a success.
There is something encouraging about the direction all three countries are taking. Uganda are looking to strengthen their national team, Kenya are working to maximise their tourism and sporting opportunities, while Tanzania are continuing their preparations to welcome the continent.
For East African football, this is an important moment. The region has often been overshadowed by the traditional heavyweights of African football, but hosting AFCON provides an opportunity to change perceptions and leave a lasting impression.
Uganda’s diaspora recruitment drive could be one of the most important pieces of that puzzle. The arrival of players such as Dongmo is not just about adding another name to a squad list. It reflects a federation looking beyond its immediate borders and trying to build a team with greater depth and experience.
Still, the biggest measure of success will be what happens on the pitch. The Cranes must turn their growing pool of talent into a team capable of going toe-to-toe with Africa’s best. Put has the experience to guide that process, but the players must also deliver when the tournament arrives.
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have a lot of work ahead, but the signs are encouraging. Their CHAN experience, the ongoing infrastructure developments and the growing ambition around their national teams suggest that AFCON 2027 is being taken seriously.
For Uganda in particular, the message is becoming clearer with every new heritage player brought into the conversation: they do not want to be at AFCON simply because they are hosting it. They want to arrive with a team capable of making the tournament count.
And that is perhaps the most interesting part of the growing Cranes project.
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