Uganda Premier League side URA FC has officially bolstered its frontline. URA FC has confirmed the signing of 23-year-old forward Derrick Kakooza on a two-year contract, ending months of speculation regarding the striker’s next move.
Kakooza arrives as a free agent following a stint in Albania with Tërbuni Pukë. While his career trajectory, once marked by a meteoric rise as a youth international, has faced its fair share of hurdles, this move represents a calculated “reset” for both the player and the club.
This wasn’t a snap decision by the URA hierarchy. Kakooza has been embedded with the squad for over three months, undergoing a rigorous trial period.
During that time, he did enough to convince head coach Hussein Mbalangu and the technical bench that he is the missing piece of their offensive puzzle.
“Derrick is a promising forward with a lot of potential,” Mbalangu noted. “With proper guidance and good management, we believe he will help us. He has shown good signs in training, and now we want him to translate that into performances on match days.”
It is no secret that URA FC has struggled in the final third this season. The burden of finding the back of the net has often looked heavy for the current squad and Kakooza is being brought in specifically to shoulder that weight.
For the player, the challenge is one he welcomes with open arms. Speaking to the club’s official website, a visibly emotional Kakooza acknowledged the pressure but focused on the opportunity.
“As a striker, that responsibility excites me,” Kakooza said. “I know the team has been working hard but scoring goals hasn’t been easy. I want to help the club score again, win matches and bring smiles back to our fans.”
Kakooza’s journey has been a rollercoaster since he finished as the top scorer at the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
After stints abroad didn’t quite materialise into long-term stardom, many wondered if the spark had faded. Kakooza, however, is quick to dismiss the past in favour of a “fresh chapter.”
“There were moments when things did not move the way many expected, but I have put all that aside.”
“With Coach Mbalangu giving me trust, I am going to work hard to get back to where I belong. It will take teamwork, discipline, and consistency.”
By securing Kakooza on a two-year deal, URA is betting on a high-upside talent who is motivated to prove his critics wrong.
If he can recapture the clinical form that once made him one of the most sought-after young prospects in East Africa, the Tax Collectors might have just secured the bargain of the season.