By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Sports Club is gearing up to launch its 2025 University Football League campaign, focusing on capitalizing on their strong home record to achieve their targets this season.
No team won at IUIU Mbale grounds last season.
The league officially kicked off on September 25th, but IUIU SC will begin their bid on October 3rd, 2025, hosting debutants King Ceasor University (KCU) in Mbale City.
IUIU has been placed in a competitive group of six teams alongside KCU, Uganda Christian University (UCU), Ndejje University, Kumi University, and Makerere University.
IUIU Assistant Coach Kagwa Mubaraka confirmed the team’s readiness. “We have played a couple of friendly games with teams around the community as trial matches to assess and rectify the squad,” Kagwa stated.
The team aims to build on their performance from last season, where they finished fourth overall. After topping their group and beating Kampala University in the quarter-finals, their run ended with a semi-final loss to St. Lawrence University and a subsequent defeat to Bugema University in the third-place playoffs.
“Our major target is winning each game ahead of us,” Kagwa emphasized, outlining their ambition to progress further this year.
The squad has undergone significant changes following the graduation of three key players: goalkeeper Shadat Musasizi, striker Isma Tamubula, and defender Owori Armstrong.
The technical team, led by veteran coach and Sports Tutor Keba Haruna, has reacted by bringing in seven new players whom the assistant coach believes are potential starters.
IUIU will still boast the experience of key returning players, including Onongo Denis, Emma Shikanga, Imam Shafiki Kawooya (Captain), Calvin Otim, and Faisal Mumali.
Crucially, the team looks to maintain their unbeaten home record in Mbale from last season a strength they intend to leverage heavily throughout the 2025 campaign.
