The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has announced the appointment of Morley Byekwaso and Fred Muhumuza to the Uganda Cranes coaching panel ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The regional tournament, under the Pamoja East Africa hosting banner, will be staged across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2 to August 30, 2025.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, FUFA confirmed the appointments and outlined the structure of the coaching team that will lead the Uganda National Team during the CHAN 2024 tournament.
"FUFA is pleased to announce the appointment of the following coaching panel for the Uganda National Team participating in the CHAN 2024 tournament, scheduled to take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2nd to August 30th, 2025, under the Pamoja East Africa hosting arrangement," the federation said.
"The coaching panel comprises Fred Muhumuza and Morley Byekwaso. Both coaches will be supervised and monitored by Uganda Cranes Head Coach Paul Put throughout the team's participation in the tournament.
Further technical personnel will be announced in due course, following the naming of the squad."
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is a biennial football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) exclusively featuring players who compete in their respective national leagues.
CHAN 2024, the 8th edition of the tournament, will be historic as it will be jointly hosted by three East African countries; Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania under the “Pamoja” (Swahili for “together”) partnership.
Uganda, one of the co-hosts, is expected to leverage home advantage as it looks to make a strong showing in the tournament, having never progressed past the group stage in previous editions.
Who is Morley Byekwaso?
Morley Byekwaso is a well-respected figure in Ugandan football, both as a former national team player and as a coach.
A midfielder in his playing days, Byekwaso featured for clubs like KCCA FC and SC Villa, and earned caps with the Uganda Cranes during the early 2000s.
After retiring from active football, Byekwaso transitioned into coaching, most notably managing KCCA FC where he also served in a caretaker role for the Uganda U-20 national team. He guided the Hippos to the final of the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda's best performance at youth level.
His ability to develop young talent and instill tactical discipline makes him a valuable addition to the CHAN setup.
*Muhumuza's bio
Fred Muhumuza is a seasoned tactician with grassroots and elite-level coaching experience in Uganda.
He has served in various technical roles in the Uganda Premier League and has also been involved in youth development.
Muhumuza has also previously been in charge of Tooro Province in the FUFA Drum competition.
Last year, he was appointed tactician Fred Muhumuza to the technical team as an assistant coach.
Muhumuza holds a CAF B Coaching Licence, and is expected to get underway with immediate effect.
The youthful tactician is former midfielder at Uganda Premier League side SC Villa and the now-defunct Victors FC.
Muhumuza is known for his attention to detail, tactical awareness, and ability to scout and nurture home-based talent, a crucial element in CHAN, where only players competing in domestic leagues are eligible.
The pair's inclusion in the Cranes’ technical bench signals FUFA's intent to build a solid, locally-grounded team for the continental showpiece.
As the countdown to CHAN 2024 continues, FUFA is expected to finalize the full technical team and announce the provisional squad in the coming weeks.
With the advantage of hosting and a blend of experienced coaches on the touchline, Uganda will be aiming to finally break into the knockout stages and contend for the title on home soil.