Uganda Cranes and Vipers SC attacking midfielder Allan Okello has joined Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC.
He leaves Vipers SC as the club’s second most expensive sale, following Farouk Miya.
In 2016, Miya left Vipers for $400,000 (UGX 1.4 billion) to join Belgian side Standard Liège.
A decade later, Okello moves for a reported $300,000 (around UGX 1 billion), making him the second-highest transfer fee in the club’s history.
The figure exceeds what the club earned in the sale of Cesar Manzoki to China, as they bagged a reported $200,000 (around UGX 721 million).
The 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Yanga, a move the Tanzanian side had been pursuing for some time.
Although Miya is still Vipers’ most expensive export, Okello’s transfer fee reflects a series of rejected bids for the player.
At the start of the 2025/26 season, Vipers reportedly rejected a $500,000 (UGX 1.8 billion) offer for the midfielder from Yanga, as the club still needed his services in the CAF Champions League.
Had that deal gone through, Okello would have set a new record as Vipers’ most expensive sale.
The club held onto him, hoping to make a deep run in the CAF Champions League.
With Okello being a key player for Vipers, they believed his contributions could help them progress into the group stages.
However, Vipers failed to qualify, and Okello entered the final year of his contract, one that wasn’t going to be renewed.
With just six months left on his contract, Vipers SC faced a tough choice: sell now or risk losing him for free at the end of the season.
After considering their options, the club opted to sell Okello in January rather than let him leave on a free transfer in the summer.
Okello departs Vipers SC as both Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup champion, following a standout 2024/25 campaign.
He also finished as the UPL top scorer with 19 goals. His departure marks the end of a successful chapter at Vipers, where he played a crucial role in their dominance on the domestic front.
At Young Africans SC, Okello’s arrival strengthens their squad as they look to build on their dominance in the Tanzanian Premier League.
For Okello, this is an exciting opportunity to showcase his talent on a bigger stage – the Tanzanian Premier League and the Champions League.
