Uganda’s president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday officially commissioned the new El Cambio Football Academy training complex in Masaka, marking a major milestone for grassroots football development in the region.
The Head of State presided over the opening ceremony alongside academy founder Thomas Thor, club administrators, local leaders, and invited guests, as the Masaka sub-region welcomed one of the country’s most ambitious youth football projects.
Designed as more than just a football centre, El Cambio Football Academy positions itself as a holistic institution focused on nurturing talent while shaping disciplined, educated, and socially responsible young athletes. President Museveni praised the academy’s philosophy, emphasizing its broader mission beyond the pitch.
“The El Cambio Football Academy has a vision to change lives on and off the field and provide education. Football plus character development to its students,” President Museveni stated.
In a short time, the academy has already established itself as a credible contributor to Ugandan football. Several of its players have earned national recognition, featuring for Uganda at the global level, including representation at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The academy’s influence is also being felt at senior level, with its graduates part of the national setup at the ongoing AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco.
One of its standout products, James Bogere, is in the 28-man Uganda Cranes squad competing at AFCON 2025, underlining the academy’s growing reputation as a pipeline for elite talent.
Bogere, alongside fellow academy graduate Hamuza Ssengooba, has already taken the leap into European football, signing professional contracts with Danish top-flight side AGF.
Before my first rally of the day, I officially opened the El Cambio Sports Academy in Masaka. It is good to have these facilities to train young people so that they make good use of their potential talent. pic.twitter.com/ZHr0oaMUvl
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) December 22, 2025
The Masaka-based facility boasts modern infrastructure tailored to elite athlete development. It features a standard-size artificial turf pitch, fully equipped gymnasium, medical and rehabilitation unit, video analysis room, school classrooms, dormitories, kitchen, and a trophy cabinet that reflects the academy’s early success.
With its blend of education, character building, and high-performance football, El Cambio Football Academy is positioning itself as a model institution in Uganda’s sports ecosystem, offering young players a structured pathway from grassroots football to the international stage.
