Uganda Cranes forward Yunus Junior Sentamu is hoping to write a new chapter in his remarkable football journey as he prepares for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Uganda is co-hosting for the first time.
Ten years after bursting onto the scene at CHAN 2014 in South Africa, Sentamu, now 30, is back in the national setup and ready to lead Uganda past the group stage—a feat the Cranes have never achieved at the tournament.
“I’m praying to God that I’ll do even better this time around,” said Sentamu, who currently plays for Vipers SC. “We’ve always had talent but never made it out of the groups. This time, we must.”
Sentamu’s football story began in the hills of Kasese, where his love for the game faced early resistance from his parents—especially his mother, who insisted he focus on school.
It was a close friend, Kibaya, who stepped in, doing chores with him before sneaking him off to play. Eventually, he won his parents’ approval and began a journey that would take him far from home.
His raw talent first caught attention during a youth tournament in Egypt. Though his team lost, his performance stood out and led to mentorship from the late Peter Ssebulime, who helped support Sentamu’s education and football career. St. Julian Gayaza and St. Mary’s Kitende soon followed, laying the foundation for his rise.
Sentamu’s national team debut in 2014 came by accident. He was a late call-up, replacing striker Patrick Edema who had left for Portugal. With little international experience, he was thrown into the starting lineup against Burkina Faso.
“I was nervous. Then coach Fred Kajoba told me I’d score—and I did, twice,” Sentamu recalled.
He ended the tournament with three goals, tied as joint top scorer alongside South Africa’s Bernard Parker. His breakout performance earned him a move to AS Vita in DR Congo, where he reached the CAF Champions League final that same season.
Now a veteran, Sentamu enters CHAN 2024 with fresh motivation. Uganda will host matches at home for the first time in CHAN history, and the forward knows the stakes are high.
“Playing at home is special. The fans give you energy, but they also demand more,” he said. “This is one of those moments. We just have to believe this is our time to make history.”
Drawn in a tough Group C with Algeria, South Africa, Niger, and Guinea, Uganda faces a steep challenge. But Sentamu insists experience and preparation matter more than names.
