Felix Kawooya Ssekabuuza will return to Wankulukuku Stadium on October 31 with an opportunity to put past disappointment behind him when Gomba face Kyaggwe in the 2026 Masaza Cup final.
For Ssekabuuza, the showdown presents a chance to rewrite a painful chapter of his coaching career. He guided Gomba to the 2023 final, where they lost to Bulemeezi, and will now hope to lead the five-time champions to another title.
His return to the final comes after Gomba suffered consecutive group-stage eliminations in 2024 and 2025, making their run to this season’s decider a significant turnaround.
Ssekabuuza will also be seeking redemption after missing the touchline during his first final appearance following a red card.
This time, however, he faces a familiar opponent in Kyaggwe, a side that has repeatedly tested his teams in the competition. Their previous encounters suggest Saturday’s final could be another closely contested affair.
From assistant to champion
Ssekabuuza’s coaching career has featured success across different levels of Ugandan football, from school competitions and regional leagues to the Masaza Cup.
At Kiboga Young, he helped the club navigate the lower divisions as it pursued promotion to the FUFA Big League.
He later guided Ntugasaze to the Buganda Regional League title in the 2023/24 season, securing promotion to the FUFA Big League after defeating Proline in the promotion play-off.
His achievements also extend to school football. He guided St Mark High School in Kayunga to the USSSA district championship and regional title, defeating Mehta Secondary School 1-0.
In 2024, he coached St Julian High School to the USSSA national boys’ football championship.
His biggest breakthrough as a Masaza Cup head coach came in 2025, when he led Buweekula to their maiden title, ending a 21-year wait for the trophy.
Before establishing himself as a head coach, Ssekabuuza had already won several honours as an assistant, including two Masaza Cup titles with Gomba, two with Ssingo and another with Busiro in 2022.
His latest assignment with Gomba presents another opportunity to demonstrate his ability to rebuild competitive sides and deliver under pressure.
Kyaggwe, a familiar obstacle
Kyaggwe’s place in the final adds another dimension to Ssekabuuza’s pursuit of glory, given the history between the coach and the county.
In 2024, while in charge of Buweekula, Ssekabuuza faced Kyaggwe in the semifinals.
Kyaggwe, then coached by David Mutono, won the first leg 1-0 at Bishops’ grounds in Mukono before holding Buweekula to a goalless draw in the return leg at National Teachers’ College.
The results sent Kyaggwe to the final, while Buweekula dropped into the third-place play-off, where they defeated Kyadondo 3-0.
The rivalry continued in 2025, when Kyaggwe were under Simon Peter Mugerwa.
Kyaggwe again won the first leg 1-0 at National Teachers’ College, leaving Buweekula needing a victory in the return fixture to keep their title hopes alive.
Ssekabuuza’s side responded at Bishops’ grounds, where Collins Ssemanda scored a second-half free kick to secure a 1-0 win and level the aggregate score at 1-1.
Buweekula eventually prevailed in the penalty shoot-out to advance to the final, where they defeated Ssingo 1-0 to claim their first Masaza Cup title.
That triumph turned an earlier disappointment against Kyaggwe into a defining moment in Ssekabuuza’s coaching career.
Now, the two sides meet again, with Ssekabuuza leading Gomba and another trophy within reach.
Gomba’s road back to the final
When Ssekabuuza returned to Gomba for the 2026 campaign, he inherited the task of reviving a team that had failed to progress beyond the group stage in the previous two seasons.
Gomba were drawn into the Masengere group alongside Busiro, Ssese, Kyaggwe, Mawokota and Bulemeezi.
They opened their campaign with a draw against Busiro before beating Ssese 2-1 at home. Their progress was checked by a 1-0 defeat to Mawokota.
The two meetings with Kyaggwe ended in draws, underlining how evenly matched the sides have been ahead of the final.
The first encounter finished 1-1, with Kyaggwe scoring first. The return fixture also ended 1-1 after Gomba took the lead before conceding a late equaliser.
Despite dropping points, Gomba secured qualification for the knockout stage, where they faced Buddu in the quarterfinals.
A commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg gave them a strong advantage. Although they lost the return fixture 1-0, they progressed 3-1 on aggregate.
They then eliminated Butambala by winning both legs of the semifinals to book their place in the final.
The run represents a significant improvement for a team that had suffered back-to-back group-stage exits. Ssekabuuza is now one match away from delivering the ultimate prize.
A chance to make history
Ssekabuuza’s coaching record includes four finals in five years and five consecutive semifinal appearances, according to the record provided.
His triumph with Buweekula in 2025 further strengthened his reputation as a coach capable of delivering success in the competition.
Victory over Kyaggwe would give him consecutive Masaza Cup titles as a head coach, adding to the honours he collected as an assistant.
It would also put him in contention to join the coaches who have successfully defended the title, a feat achieved by his senior, Shafik Bisaso.
The challenge, however, is considerable.
Kyaggwe have already shown their ability to frustrate Gomba, with both group-stage meetings ending in draws. Their previous encounters with Ssekabuuza’s teams also suggest that the final could be decided by fine margins.
For Gomba, the match presents an opportunity to end their wait for another Masaza Cup crown and reaffirm their status as one of the competition’s traditional powerhouses.
For Ssekabuuza, the stakes are personal.
Three years after leaving Wankulukuku disappointed following defeat to Bulemeezi, he returns with a different team, a championship-winning record and another opportunity to turn past disappointment into a defining achievement.