LUWEERO — In a stunning twist to the Buganda Masaza Cup campaign, the management team of three-time champions Bulemeezi Ssaza FC has officially parted ways with head coach Leo Ssekamatte.
The decision comes just a short time after the "Balyannaka" heavily invested in a star-studded 29-man squad, throwing their group stage ambitions into immediate tactical uncertainty.
High Expectations Meet Sudden Exit
Ssekamatte, a highly regarded tactician who previously won the tournament as an assistant coach with Bulemeezi (2019) and Gomba (2021), was handed the reins ahead of the tournament kickoff with a singular mandate: return the heavyweights to their former glory after failing to advance past the group stages in the previous two seasons.
Backed by the financial muscle of team Patron Frank Mutalaga—who injected close to sh200m into assembling a team that included former captains from rival Ssaza teams—the pressure to perform was immediate.
The Group of Death Dilemma
The timing of Ssekamatte's departure leaves Bulemeezi in a delicate position. Placed in the highly competitive Masengere Group, the team is forced to battle for a quarterfinal spot against tournament giants including:
Gomba
Busiro
Mawokota
Kyaggwe
Ssese
With every match carrying massive weight in this "Group of Death," the management committee, led by Chairman Ssaalongo Yiga Jonathan and Team Manager Innocent Mugabo, felt an immediate change at the helm was necessary to safeguard their heavy financial investments and the passionate demands of the Luweero fans.
"This season's team was built to be unique, envious, and dominant," a source close to the management committee noted. "With the kind of motivation and resources provided by the patron, the targets remain non-negotiable. Management felt a different direction on the touchline was required to achieve that."
What's Next for Bulemeezi?
The club has not yet officially named a permanent successor to take over the hot seat. Attention now turns to Technical Advisor Edward Golola, an experienced mastermind in Ugandan football, alongside assistant coaches Anthony “Cassano” Bongole and Najib Mukasa, who are expected to handle the transition as management scrambles to stabilize the dressing room.
For Ssekamatte, the exit cuts short a highly anticipated homecoming project, leaving the tactical blueprint of one of Masaza Cup's most expensive squads in the hands of whoever steps up next.
