Captain Agnes Nabukenya scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute to seal the win for the Ugandan champions at the Kigali Pelé Stadium. The late strike earned Kawempe Muslim Ladies the sole ticket from the CECAFA zone to the continental final tournament later this year.
The match was tightly contested from the outset, with both sides creating opportunities but struggling to break the deadlock during regular time. Kenya Police Bullets, who had reached the final for the second time after finishing as runners-up in 2024, pushed hard for a breakthrough. Kawempe, however, remained organised defensively and waited for their moment.
That moment arrived deep into extra time when Nabukenya found the net, sparking celebrations among the Ugandan contingent. The goal crowned an impressive campaign for the Valley Warriors, who had progressed through the group stage and semi-finals without conceding.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies had earlier defeated Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) 3-0 in the semi-final, with Jovia Nakagolo and Nabukenya among the scorers. Kenya Police Bullets had advanced with a dominant 5-0 win over South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Ugandan women’s club football. Kawempe become only the second side from the country to reach the CECAFA final after She Corporate in 2022, and the first to claim the title and the accompanying Champions League qualification in recent years.
Head coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi’s side displayed consistency and resilience throughout the tournament in Rwanda. Their defensive solidity combined with clinical finishing in key moments proved decisive.
For Kenya Police Bullets, the defeat is a second successive final loss in the CECAFA Qualifiers. The Kenyan champions had shown strong form, finishing top of their group and scoring freely in the knockout stages, but ultimately fell short against a determined Ugandan outfit.
The result means Kawempe Muslim Ladies will represent East and Central Africa at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. The achievement underlines the growing competitiveness of women’s football in the CECAFA region and provides a platform for the Ugandan champions on the continental stage.