Allan Okello's Transfer to Morocco Ignites Heated Debate Between Kasingye and Magogo

A public disagreement over the future of Ugandan football has erupted between former SC Villa official Asan Kasingye and FUFA president Moses Magogo, exposing deep-seated tensions on how to develop and commercialise the nation's talent ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The heated exchange was sparked by a social media discussion surrounding the reported $1.5 million (UGX5.5 billion) transfer of Uganda Cranes midfielder Allan Okello from Tanzanian champions Young Africans (Yanga) to Moroccan powerhouse AS FAR Rabat.

Kasingye, a former police political commissar, used the transfer to highlight what he sees as a failure to properly market Ugandan players. "We need to learn how to market our players in Uganda. Football is a multi-business venture but, we’re on 1% battery power," he posted.

In response, Magogo pointed the finger at the Ugandan public's focus on foreign football leagues over domestic competitions. "These things don’t happen in countries where we cherish foreign leagues ahead of our own," the FUFA president argued. "Local following means money to clubs to build capacity to develop players."

Magogo suggested that attention given to overseas leagues is a resource drain, stating, "Let us not give away our cake and have it at the same time."

Kasingye swiftly rejected this explanation, accusing Magogo of only addressing the issue because he had raised it. "If it wasn’t for my response, you wouldn’t have talked about this matter in a federation you lead," Kasingye retorted.

He then broadened his criticism, questioning Magogo's leadership on major football issues, including the preparations for the 2027 AFCON, which Uganda is set to co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. "We’ve not been talking about the foreign leagues since June but neither have we heard FUFA talking about the direction of local football including AFCON 2027," Kasingye said.

He added, "Afcon is near the corner, and you can drop a pin and it will be louder than you telling Ugandans about what’s happening... How ready is Uganda vis-a-vis the other Pamoja organisers? And we’re numb."

The dispute took a somber turn when Kasingye brought up the recent death of SC Villa captain David Owori, who was killed in an attack in Kampala on August 5. He criticised FUFA's handling of the tragedy. "A player was murdered. I didn’t hear a single word from you. You didn’t even attend the burial," he charged. "You sent a representative but you even failed to call for a press conference later."

Concluding his sharp critique, Kasingye dismissed Magogo's arguments and called for his resignation. "Somehow, the foreign leagues must be blamed instead of your incompetence. Come on, we’re mature people. Give up & let someone who can overturn this conundrum come up," he wrote.

The controversy unfolds as Okello's transfer highlights the potential financial gains from Ugandan talent. The midfielder joined Yanga from Vipers in January 2026 for a reported $300,000. Just seven months later, his stellar performances, which included 14 goals and eight assists in Yanga's title-winning season, attracted the lucrative $1.5 million offer from AS FAR.

This five-fold increase in his transfer value has become a case study in the debate over whether Uganda's football infrastructure is equipped to capitalise on the success of its players.

Okello's career has also seen him play for Algerian side Paradou AC before a successful return to Uganda with Vipers, where he was the top scorer in the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League season with 19 goals. His latest move has thus become a focal point for renewed questions about the country's ability to benefit from its own footballing talent.

As Uganda gears up to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a high-profile conflict between Kasingye and Magogo is drawing attention to the nation's readiness. The upcoming tournament will inevitably place Uganda's football infrastructure, administrative capabilities, commercial strategies, and fan engagement under a microscope.