Kawempe Muslim Ladies Crowned CECAFA Champions, Book Historic Slot in CAF Women’s Champions League. -

Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC made history as the first Ugandan club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League, defeating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in an extra-time thriller to win the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers final in Kigali.

Captain Agnes Nabukenya proved the difference-maker, netting the decisive goal in extra time to seal continental qualification for the six-time Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League champions. The final itself was a tense, tightly fought contest, with neither side breaking the deadlock through a goalless 90 minutes.

What makes the achievement particularly striking is the manner of it. Kawempe went through the entire CECAFA qualifying tournament unbeaten and without conceding a single goal, a defensive record that underlined just how well drilled Ayub’s side were throughout the competition.

The individual accolades reflected that dominance. Goalkeeper Saidat Namwanje was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, while skipper Agnes Nabukenya was crowned Most Valuable Player.

The Valley Warriors, as Kawempe are nicknamed, arrived in Kigali on the back of winning the 2025/26 FUFA Women Super League title on the final day of the season sealing the domestic crown with win over Olila High School while closest rivals She Corporate were held to a draw.

At the CECAFA draw held at Amahoro Stadium, Kawempe were placed in a tough Group B alongside Ethiopian giants Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Djibouti’s FC Ujeco.

They managed to win 1:0 against CBE and 8:0 against Ujeco. They topped the group before booking their place in the final with a commanding 3-0 semi-final win over CBE. Jovia Nakagolo pouncing on a defensive error to open the scoring before CBE’s Tigist Adane turned the ball into her own net under pressure.

That semi-final win made Kawempe only the second Ugandan club ever to reach the final of the tournament, following She Corporate FC’s run to the final in 2022 in Tanzania. This time, Kawempe went one step further.

The victory secures Uganda’s maiden appearance at the CAF Women’s Champions League, a milestone head coach Ayub and his squad will hope marks a new chapter for women’s football in the country. It also adds another achievement to a Kawempe Muslim Ladies side that has won six league titles since their first in 2015, cementing their status as one of the powerhouse clubs in Ugandan women’s football.

The Valley Warriors have secured a USD 100,000 prize for winning the competition, with their triumph also earning them qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League. With continental qualification comes an even greater financial opportunity, as the club expects to receive a minimum of USD 150,000 from its participation in the CAF Women’s Champions League, further boosting the club’s financial prospects and ambitions on the continental stage.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies will now prepare to represent Uganda and the CECAFA region on the continental stage at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League, a tournament that promises to test them against the very best clubs Africa has to offer.