Issa Sekatawa

The Golden Boy of Ugandan Football

Issa Sekatawa, also widely recorded as Issa Ssekatawa, is a former Uganda Cranes striker whose goalscoring and popularity made him one of the defining figures of Ugandan football in the 1980s. Known as the “Golden Boy”, he won three consecutive national league top-scorer awards between 1981 and 1983, representing Nytil and Express.

Early football and the rise at Nytil

Sekatawa’s football journey took him through Kampala and western Uganda before he established himself in Jinja. He attended Khoja Shia Primary School, later known as Kyaggwe Road Primary School, and subsequently Ntare School in Mbarara.

At Ntare, his performances attracted Mbarara United, while national youth-team selection offered another opportunity to develop. He later moved to Nytil, becoming part of the side that finished runners-up in the 1980 national league.

His breakthrough individual season followed in 1981, when he scored 18 league goals to finish as Uganda’s leading scorer. Express then secured his services for the 1982 campaign, bringing one of the country’s most exciting attacking talents to the Red Eagles.

Three consecutive Golden Boots

Sekatawa carried his scoring form into his new club, topping the league charts with 22 goals in 1982 and 21 in 1983.

His three successive awards spanned two clubs: the first at Nytil and the next two at Express. That sustained productivity established his place among the outstanding finishers in Uganda’s domestic football history.

He could finish in a remarkable variety of ways, from headers and volleys to improvised touches and acrobatic efforts. His attacking understanding with winger Fred Mukasa was a particularly memorable feature of Express during the early 1980s.

A football star beyond the stadium

Sekatawa’s appeal extended into everyday popular culture. Bata marketed footwear bearing his name, while Sekatawa-branded T-shirts carried the slogan “Goals are my business”.

These commercial associations made him an early example of a Ugandan footballer whose public profile could attract brands as well as supporters. His legacy therefore belongs to both the history of goalscoring and the development of sports celebrity in Uganda.

Success with KCC and a return to Express

Injuries interrupted Sekatawa’s progress during the latter part of the 1980s. After leaving Express, he played for Coffee before joining KCC, now KCCA FC.

At KCC, he contributed to the team that won the 1990 Uganda Cup, defeating SC Villa 3–0 in the final, and the 1991 national league championship. He later returned to Express and was part of its 1993 league-winning squad, adding another championship chapter to his career.

Memorable moments with the Cranes

Sekatawa’s international career included some outstanding individual moments. On 28 May 1983, he scored in Uganda’s 4–1 victory over Algeria at Nakivubo in an Olympic qualifier.

His most decisive regional contribution came in the 1992 CECAFA final. Facing Tanzania’s B side in Mwanza on 28 November, Sekatawa scored the only goal of the match in the 77th minute to secure the trophy for Uganda.

Despite his stature and a Cranes career spanning the 1980s into the early 1990s, he never played at an Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament. His story is a reminder that some of Uganda’s finest footballers built remarkable international careers without appearing on that stage.

Life After Football

Sekatawa remains connected to the community of former players through FFI. In 2026, he was among the graduates of the FAMACO I football administration and management course, continuing his involvement in the game beyond his playing years.

His place in Ugandan football history rests on an exceptional combination: three consecutive Golden Boots, championship success, a CECAFA final-winning goal and a popularity that carried his name far beyond the terraces.