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Today athletes worldwide use different social media platforms to communicate and engage with their followers on various talking points. Pulse Sports’ Peter Tabu compiled this list of the 13 most followed Ugandan athletes on social media.
Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, idea, interests and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks.
Today athletes worldwide use different social media platforms to communicate and engage with their followers on various talking points.
Pulse Sports’ Peter Tabu compiled this list of the 13 most followed Ugandan athletes on social media.
Most followed Ugandan Athletes on social media
13. Saddam Ibrahim Juma – 17k
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Saddam Juma Ibrahim is arguably the most stylish Ugandan footballer or, we can say, athlete; nicknamed the ‘big game player’ due to his ability to step up in big games, ‘Juma Nature’ never goes wrong with the latest trends anywhere he has played at.
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Saddam usually shares videos of his workouts and training sessions with kids which has grown his audience and made him one of the most followed Ugandan athletes on Social Media
His star persona has attracted the wrong attention, with critics saying his lifestyle has always prevented him from performing consistently. As a result, Saddam is currently a free agent turned coach.
Social Media reach: Twitter 14k, Instagram 3K
12. Salim Jamal Magoola - 18.7K
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The Uganda Cranes and Richards Bay goalkeeper is among the most outspoken players.
In 2019, Salim Jamal famously clapped back at then MP for Aruu County Odonga Otto after the latter attacked a section of Cranes players demanding bonuses at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Jamal always shares inspirational messages and verses from the Quran; he also shares match day and training pictures.
Social media reach: Twitter 11.7k, Instagram 7k
11. Allan Kateregga – 26.7k
The Uganda Cranes winger is the most engaging athlete on social media. The ‘Dancing Rasta’ is never short of exciting interactions, especially in politics and music.
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Allan Kategeregga also goes a step further to showcase his dancing skills in different videos while doing chores at home or working out in the gym.
The Former KCCA FC player now features for FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the DRC.
Social media Reach: Twitter – 19.7k, Instagram 7k
10. Abdu Lumala – 27.6k
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Abdul Lumala, the ‘electric man’ as he is known, has also earned his stripes for being stylish; Lumala is always sharing images in the latest outfit.
Lumala shares videos and images of himself working out severally. He also uses social media to speak his mind, especially when responding to fans who criticize him.
Social media reach: Twitter – 11.6K, Instagram 16K
9. Kiiza Mustapha – 42.2k
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Mustafa Kiiza, a product of the KCCA FC youth team, alongside Allan Okello and Julius Poloto, are some of the players who were promoted in 2017.
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The left-back is a stylist, always sharing images of him in marching outfits of the latest trends like Gucci and Gabana.
Kiiza has gone on to play for Montreal Impact in the MLS and Portuguese side FC Arouca before returning to Lugogo until the end of the season.
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Social media reach: Twitter – 16.2K Instagram 26K
8. Allan Okello – 44.9K
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The creative midfielder, currently on loan at KCCA FC from Paradou, broke onto the football scene in 2017.
However, everyone still talks about his hat trick on his debut in 2017 against Onduparaka in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
Okello uses social media to show off his fashion sense, always sharing pictures of him wearing the latest outfits, just like his teammate Mustapha Kizza.
Social Media Reach: Twitter – 32.1K Instagram 12.8K
7. Ishmail Wainright – 88.3K
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Ishmail Wainright is Uganda’s only current export to the NBA; you can say he is living his dream of turning out for the Phoenix Suns franchise.
The 28-year-old is less active on social media but shares images of himself and videos of him scoring buckets for his team.
‘Ish’ also uses social media to send lovely messages to his family to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays, which staff fans his always respond to.
He has featured for the Silverbacks, Uganda’s men’s national basketball team at 2022 Afrobasket and the World Cup Qualifiers.
Social media reach: Twitter - 22.3K, Instagram – 66K
6. Denis Masinde Onyango – 286K
Step aside for one of Uganda’s best exports in football, and the former Uganda Cranes captain is currently playing for South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 38-year-old is also very interactive on social media, always poking sports journalists and former Cranes teammates, which gets people interacting on his Twitter handle.
And that has grown his status as one of the most followed Ugandan athletes on Social Media.
Onyango is the most successful player in the PSL, with ten league titles and various individual accolades.
Social media reach: Twitter 86.8K, Instagram 76.4K, Facebook – 268K
5. Joshua Cheptegei – 382K
Finally, a break from football, Joshua Cheptegei is easily Uganda’s most talked about athlete in recent years because of what he has been achieving.
Cheptegei settled the GOAT debate when he defended the 10000m world title; in between there, he also the 5000m Olympic gold.
Cheptegei is also the world record holder in the 10000m and 5000m races, a feat that has made Cheptegei very popular on social media.
Cheptegei always shares updates about his race schedules and foundation in Kapchorwa.
Social media reach: Twitter – 63K, Instagram 283K, Facebook – 99K
4. Taddeo Lwanga – 603k
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The Engineer, AKA the Pastor, not a week comes and goes without sharing a bible verse or motivational quote on his timeline.
The former Vipers, Villa, Express FC and Simba SC combative midfielder built a cult hero status while at Simba, which grew with social media status.
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And he has never looked back since. Lwanga is a free agent after his contract with Djibouti side Arta Solar was run down.
Social media reach: Twitter 25.4K Instagram 220K, Facebook – 378K
3. Farouk Miya – 760K
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Farouk Miya was the golden boy of Ugandan football for some good time, and he earned the nickname after scoring Uganda’s lone goal against Comoros as the Cranes sealed qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978.
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Now 25, Miya, who plays for the Turkish side Rizespor a side he helped earn promotion to the top flight, always shares scriptures from the Quran and images from his training.
He also uses social media to celebrate the public holidays and birthdays of those close to him which has made him one of the most followed Ugandan athletes on Social Media
Social media reach: Twitter – 29.1K, Instagram – 609K, Facebook – 122K
2. Emmanuel Okwi – 817K
Emmanuel Okwi could be more active on social media but commands a considerable following hence making it on the list of the most followed Ugandan athletes on Social Media
The Cranes captain stepped it up during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored twice as the Cranes reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1978. Okwi currently features Erbil in Iraq.
Social media reach: Twitter – 77.2K Instagram – 443K, Facebook – 297K
1.Khalid Aucho – 1M
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The Uganda Cranes assistant captain is the most followed Ugandan athlete on social media.
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Currently, at Tanzanian giants Young Africans, Aucho has amassed a vast following since he moved to ‘Tiimu ya Wanainchi’ because of the crazy football atmosphere in the mainland.
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The combative midfielder usually shares messages of hope while quoting the Quran and promoting upcoming games with his posters.
Being active on social media and the success of Young Africans in Tanzania recently has facilitated Aucho’s growth on social media.
Aucho led Young Africans to a domestic treble last season, he has also helped them retain the league and guided them to their maiden CAF Confederations Cup final in the club’s history this season.
Social media reach: Twitter – 79.2K, Instagram – 357K, Facebook – 624K
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