Mbarara City have set eyes on competing for the league glory after securing a sponsorship deal with African Coffee Park.
The announcement was made at Twed Towers in Kampala as the club and African Coffee Park unveiled their partnership ahead of the highly anticipated 2026/27 season.
In a bid to achieve their set targets, the Ankole Lions who have plans to rebrand from Mbarara City also confirmed restructuring in their administrative wing, revealing a new board to steer the club to the next level.
Hon. Mwine Mpaka will serve as Board Chairperson/Club President, deputized by Mr. Nixon Tusiime.
Other board members include Hon. Mwijukye Francis, Hon. Mercy Kanyesigye, Eng. Jackson Byarugaba in charge of administration, Osborn Mushabe in charge of mobilisation, Ms Anita Vicky in charge of sponsorships, Osborn Turyasingura in charge of finance, as well as Mr. Benon Akandwanaho, Ms. Elone Natumanya Ainebyoona and Mr. Kigongo Asuman.
Formed in 2016 following a merger between Citizens Football Club and Wakiso Town Council Football Club, the club is also set to celebrate a decade in existence and given it is the only football side from Western Uganda to have consistently featured in the top two tiers of Ugandan football over the past decade, including eight seasons in the Uganda Premier League, there are plans to engage stakeholders across the Ankole region to determine how best to reposition the institution to represent the wider region.
New partners, new home
With Kakyeka unable to pass Fufa Licensing guidelines, the partnership with African Coffee Park will see the Ankole Lions shift to Africa Coffee Park stadium in Rwashameire in Ntungamo as their new home subject to Fufa approval.
Last season, they hosted matches at the Rwamwanja stadium, in Kamwenge but the proposed new home is closer to the team and its fan base.
New ambitions, rejuvenated squad
The club has re-energized with new players that include among others; Brian Aheebwa from Arba Minch City FC, Rogers Mugisha from KCCA FC, Ivan Bogere from UPDF, Eric Tumwine from Kitara FC, Iran Musinguzi and Akoragye Hassan from Kyambura Rasters, Solomon Okwalinga from Lugazi FC and Mahad Rashid from Bunyaruguru United.
What they said;
“As Africa Coffee Park, we are happy to be part of this development. We are looking at how we can develop sports together, and of course, we also want to build a culture of domestic coffee consumption,” Hilary Obukui on behalf African Coffee Park.
“As Mbarara City, we are delighted with the sponsorship from our new partners and thus have renewed ambitions and we want to win the league. Our original intention was to have it more appealing to the entire western region, and specifically Ankole, where it is found, not just Mbarara City as a single administrative unit,” Mwine Mpaka.
