Uganda’s football continues to break new ground, with John Paul Dembe set to feature in the group stages of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League.
The BK Häcken forward becomes the first Ugandan to reach this stage of Europe’s third-tier competition, marking another proud moment for the country.
The 20-year-old, formerly with KCCA FC, played a pivotal role in Häcken’s qualification.
The Swedish club had initially been chasing a UEFA Europa League spot but were knocked out by Norwegian side Brann, forcing them into the Conference League playoffs against Romanian powerhouse CFR Cluj.
The tie was effectively decided in the first leg in Sweden, where Häcken thrashed Cluj 7–2.
Introduced in the 57th minute, Dembe delivered a sensational cameo, scoring two goals to seal a comfortable advantage.
His performance earned him a starting berth in the return leg in Romania, where he featured for 71 minutes in a narrow 1–0 defeat.
Despite the loss, Häcken advanced 7–3 on aggregate, booking a historic ticket to the Conference League group stages.
The draw for the group stages will be held on Friday, and anticipation is high in Uganda to see which European giants Dembe’s Häcken will face.
Dembe’s rise is no accident. The youngster has been steadily making his mark since leaving KCCA FC, and his latest feat further cements his reputation as one of Uganda’s brightest football exports.
He is also in line for more international duty, having been named in the Uganda Cranes provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Mozambique in September.
He is expected to join camp next week and will likely be welcomed as a hero by his teammates.
