When the Uganda Cranes defender Kenneth Ssemakula announced his departure from SC Villa at the start of June, his next destination remained a mystery.
However, it was hugely anticipated that the former Jogoos’ captain would go professional and after a month or so of speculations it has been confirmed that he will be playing abroad.
On Saturday evening, Tunisian giants Club Africain announced the signing of the 21-year-old on a two-year contract as earlier reported by Swift Sports.
It will be the first time that Ssemakula plays in the professional ranks. He is a FUFA Juniors League graduate with Busoga United.
He traded Busoga for their rivals BUL before signing for the 17-time UPL champions ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Ssemakula left his name etched in the history books of the UPL record champions after captaining them to their first league triumph since 2004 when they clinched it in the 2023/24 campaign.
After coming through the ranks of the Uganda Hippos and part of the team that lost the U20 Africa Cup of Nations final to Ghana in Mauritania in 2021, he is now a mainstay in senior national team.
He was recently in the Cranes squad that played in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in June.
Ssemakula’s versatility enabled him to play in the midfield before switching to right back in the 1-0 win over the Zebras while he started in the latter position as the Cranes lost 2-1 to the Desert Warriors.
Cranes legend Jackson Mayanja for Esperance, former Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwi for Etoile du Sahel, Yunus Sentamu for CS Sfaxien, and Richard Kasagga for Olympique Beja are the Ugandan players who have played in Tunisia previously.
