Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put went big on local players at the start of his tenure but that seems to have changed.
Ahead of his maiden competitive games as the Cranes gaffer against Botswana and Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Namboole in June, a host of locally based players were summoned by the Belgian.
The 68-year-old named a 28-man provisional squad and 13 players were selected from the Uganda Premier League.
Villa, BUL, Kitara, Vipers, KCCA, and Bright Stars were the clubs with representatives then.
Goalkeeper Braddy Jeans Wokorach, defender Kenneth Ssemakula, midfielder Ronald Ssekiganda, and forwards Patrick Kakande and Umar Lutalo came from UPL champions Villa.
Defenders Ronald Otti and Nicholas Mwere were BUL’s flag bearers, goalkeeper Chrispus Kusiima and striker Denis Omedi were in for Kitara.
Striker Muhammad Shaban and midfielder Joel Sserunjogi were summoned from KCCA while Vipers and Bright Stars were represented by Allan Okello and Nelson Ssenkatuka, respectively.
This time around, that number has been reduced by five with only eight locally based players called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa and Congo Brazzaville in September.
No locally based goalkeeper has been invited, two defenders, three midfielders and forwards apiece were selected.
Villa, KCCA, Kitara, and URA are the four UPL teams with representatives for the upcoming games.
Midfielder Ssekiganda retains his place and he’s joined by his Villa teammate in defender Arnold Odongo.
KCCA midfielder Sserunjogi also stays and his midfield partner at club level Saidi Mayanja earned a summon.
Kitara forward Omedi who seems to be a mainstay in the national team is joined by his club mate Jude Ssemugabi.
Meanwhile, Okello is once again the only player summoned from Vipers.
It is also right to say that the number of players from the UPL deviated because some players joined the professional ranks.
Shaban and Ssemakula who remained in the team left KCCA and Villa for Al Hilal, Benghazi and Club Africain in Libya and Tunisia, respectively.
Kusiima, Ssenkatuka, Otti, Kakande, and Lutalo are the five locally based players that were dropped.
The Pearl of Africa will travel to South Africa on Saturday, August 31 ahead of the meeting with the Bafana Bafana on September 6th before hosting Congo on September 9th.
