Okwi, Nalukenge named USPA’s best footballers of 2019

USPA best footballers of 2019:

• Men: Emmanuel Arnold Okwi

• Women: Juliet Nalukenge

Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) voted footballers Emmanuel Arnold Okwi and Juliet Nalukenge as the best for the year, 2019.

This was during the first monthly assembly for the sports journalists held at Scarlet Hall, Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on Monday, 13th January 2020.

Okwi who currently plays professional football in Egypt at Al Ittihad Alexandria Club was singled out for the exceptional performance with Uganda Cranes during 2019 as well as his former club, Simba in Tanzania.

David Isabirye | Kawowo Sports Okwi takes the ball away from Issama Mpeko Djos at AFCON 2019 finals in Egypt. (Photo: John Batanudde)

The winger – cum – forward was top scorer for Uganda Cranes at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt with three goals, scored one of the two goals against Malawi in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers and won the Tanzania Premier League with Simba, scoring as many as 19 goals, including three in the CAF Champions League.

On the other hand, Nalukenge was singled out for her wonderful performances she held at Kawempe Muslim SS, the Uganda U-17 and Crested Cranes teams.

Franklin Kaweru | Kawowo Sports Kawempe’s Juliet Nalukenge (in red) takes on UCU Lady Cardinals defenders

The Kawempe Muslim SS women football striker top scored at the COSAFA U17 championship held in Mauritius where Uganda finished as champions.

She was also top scorer at the 2019 CECAFA women challenge cup in Tanzania as Uganda scooped bronze.

Nalukenge was also Uganda’s top scorer at the 2019 U-17 CECAFA U-17 championship held at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.

Meanwhile, the Uganda U17 girls team was also nominated among the teams of the year alongside the Uganda Athletics cross country team, Proline and Uganda Cricket Cranes.

Okwi makes the final three man short list for the best sports personality of the year alongside Joshua Chepetegei and Halima Nakaayi.

Five sports competitions were short listed among the best sporting events held in 2019.

The events were; FUFA Drum [Played across the country with final stage in Northern Uganda (Lira & Gulu)], 2019 CECAFA U-20 Championship hosted in Gulu & Njeru, 2019 Uganda Amateur Golf Championship at Lake Victoria Serena Resort, 2nd World Beach World Cup at Speenah Beach, Entebbe and National Boxing Qualifiers at Lugogo Indoor Arena, Kampala.

The tentative date for the awards dinner is slated for March 2020 at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

All Awarded Sports Personalities:

Athletics:

• Men: Joshua Cheptegei
• Women: Halima Nakaayi

Badminton:

• Men: Daniel Muhigo
• Women: Aisha Nakiyemba

Body Building:

• Isaac Mubikirwa

Boxing:

• David Ssemujju

Chess:

• Male: Harold Wanyama
• Female: Maria Nakanyike

Cricketers:

• Men: Shazad Kamal
• Female: Janet Mbabazi

Football:

• Men: Emmanuel Arnold Okwi
• Female: Juliet Nalukenge

Darts:

• Men: Patrick Ochieng
• Women: Sarah Makanga

Ludo:

• Tom Kasozi

Kickboxing:

• Patricia Apolot

Woodball:

• Men: Brian Gwaaka
• Women: Denise Nanjeru

Weight-lifting:

• Zubair Kubo

Handball:

• Men: Ibrahim Kongo
• Women: Lillian Achola

Rugby:

• Men: Pius Ogena
• Women: Samiya Iyikoru

Volleyball:

• Men: Daudi Okello
• Women: Grace Akiror

Netball:

• Stellah Oyella

Motocross:

• Gift Ssebuguzi (11 Years Old)

Motor-rally crew:

• Yasin Nasser & Ali Katumba

Tennis:

• Troy Zziwa

Swimming:

• Men: Tendo Mukalazi
• Women: Kirabo Namutebi

Squash:

• Ian Rukunya

Hockey:

• Men: Emmanual Baguma
• Female: Norah Alum

Golfers:

• Men: Joseph Cwinyaii
• Female: Martha Babirye

Basketball:

• Men: James Okello
• Female: Hope Akello

*Pool, Cycling and Table Tennis left out because of in-house issues in respective associations and clarity for lack of events.

Best Organized Sports Events in 2019 (Nominees):

• FUFA Drum [Played across the country with final stage in Northern Uganda (Lira & Gulu)]
• 2019 CECAFA U-20 Championship hosted in Gulu & Njeru
• 2019 Uganda Amateur Golf Championship at Lake Victoria Serena Resort
• 2nd World Beach World Cup at Speenah Beach, Entebbe
• National Boxing Qualifiers at Lugogo Indoor Arena, Kampala

Team of Year, 2019 (Nominees):

• Uganda U-17 Girls Team
• Uganda Cricket Cranes
• Proline Football Club
• Uganda Cross Country Athletics Team (Men)

Overall Sports Personality of 2019 (Nominees)

• Joshua Cheptegei
• Halima Nakaayi
• Emmanuel Arnold Okwi

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