By Barbara Nalweyiso
Buwekula entered this year’s Buganda Masaza Cup as one of the strongest contenders, and it was no surprise that they eventually lifted the trophy. Their head coach, Felix Kawooya Ssekabuuza, has built a remarkable track record in Ugandan football, both within the Masaza Cup and beyond.
Ssekabuuza’s journey began at Ssingo FC, where he served as assistant coach under Shafik Bisaso for years. He was part of the technical bench that delivered Ssingo’s last Masaza Cup title in 2018.
When Bisaso left for studies abroad in 2019, Felix took charge of the team and guided Ssingo to the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by Kyadondo.
In 2022, Ssekabuuza teamed up with Simon Mugerwa, now coach of Kyaggwe, to guide Busiro FC to the Masaza Cup championship.
The following year, in 2023, he joined Gomba FC as head coach , his first time in full charge of a Masaza team and led them to the finals, where they narrowly lost to Bulemeezi, finishing second.
In 2024, Ssekabuuza took over Buwekula FC, steering them to a third-place finish after defeating Kyadondo. Retained for the 2025 season, he has now led Buwekula to the Masaza Cup championship, capping off a remarkable rise in his coaching career.
Success Beyond the Masaza Cup
Away from the Masaza competition, Felix made his name in 2018 when he guided Kiboga Young FC to promotion to the FUFA Big League.
Facing Katwe United in the playoffs, Kiboga Young overturned a 2–1 aggregate to eliminate Katwe United. After losing the first leg 0-1 in Kiboga and won the return leg 0-2 away , securing promotion a signature comeback victory that would become his hallmark.
He has repeated similar feats several times since. In the 2023 Buganda Masaza Cup semi-finals, while coaching Gomba FC, he defeated Buddu FC in a two-leg tie (2–1 in the first leg and 1–0 in the second) to reach the finals, though they eventually lost to Bulemeezi.
In 2024, while coaching Ntugasaze FC, a Mityana-based club, he again defied the odds by defeating Proline FC 2–0 in the return leg of the Big League qualifiers, after losing 1-2 at home. That comeback earned Ntugasaze promotion to Fufa big league , where the club continues to compete today.
In the same year, Ssekabuuza guided St. Julian High School to their first-ever USSSA championship, and in 2025, he led them back to the quarterfinals before bowing out at that stage.
Why Buwekula Had the Edge Over Ssingo
Buwekula’s edge over Ssingo this year was largely tactical and deeply personal.
Felix Ssekabuuza had once been part of Ssingo’s coaching staff during their last title run in 2018, working with several of the same committee members who manage the current team. This inside knowledge of their decision-making and playing style gave him a clear strategic advantage.
Historically, Ssingo has never beaten a Ssekabuuza-coached team:
- While at Busiro, he eliminated Ssingo in the quarterfinals, winning 1–0 at home and drawing 3–3 in the return leg at Ssingo Saza Stadium.
- As Gomba coach, he thrashed Ssingo 4–1, again sending them out at the quarterfinal stage.
- In 2024, his Buwekula side drew 0–0 with Ssingo in the opening match at Mubende NTC, then went on to defeat them 2–0 in the return leg , even while fielding a second-string lineup.
So when Ssekabuuza and Buwekula met Ssingo again in the 2025 finals, his victory was far from surprising.
With his deep tactical knowledge, winning mentality, and consistent history of triumphing in decisive matches especially away from home , Felix Kawooya Ssekabuuza once again proved why he is one of the most respected young coaches in Ugandan football today.
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