Kampala City, Uganda: MTN Uganda and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) have launched a nationwide competition offering over Shs50 million in prizes to a young creative who will come up with the next Uganda Cranes jersey ahead of future international competitions, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The campaign, dubbed “Free Your Fayaaa – Tulage Waaka,” seeks to harness Ugandan creativity by giving designers, students, artists and football fans an opportunity to shape one of the country’s most recognizable sporting symbols.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, MTN Uganda Manager Sponsorships and Events John Paul Okwi said the initiative is intended to unlock creativity and provide a platform for young Ugandans to showcase their talent.
“At MTN, we believe every Ugandan has a fire within them. Through Free Your Fire, we continue to create opportunities for people to showcase their talents and ideas. With Free Your Fayaaa – Tulage Waaka, we are inviting Ugandans to turn that creativity into something that unites the nation,” Okwi said.
He added that the challenge goes beyond football and offers Ugandans an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on the national team. “This is not just about designing a jersey. It is about giving Ugandans a chance to leave a mark on the national team and express who we are as a people.”
FUFA First Vice President Justus Mugisha welcomed the campaign, describing it as a unique opportunity for supporters to contribute directly to the identity of the Uganda Cranes.
“The campaign gives every fan a chance to add value and truly own the Uganda Cranes jersey they wear. The jersey carries the hopes, pride and passion of millions,” Mugisha said. “Together with MTN Uganda, we are inviting Ugandans to design the next chapter of the Uganda Cranes jersey,” he added.
The latest competition revives a tradition that has previously helped shape Uganda’s national team identity.
In 2017, FUFA launched a nationwide search for a new Uganda Cranes jersey design shortly after Uganda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. The federation offered a cash prize to the winning designer and invited submissions from individuals, groups, and organizations across the country.
The exercise eventually produced a winning design by Ugandan creative Umar Mukasa, whose concept was adopted for the Uganda Cranes jersey unveiled in 2018.
FUFA later recognized Mukasa as the designer behind the kit, which was manufactured by Mafro and became one of the federation’s most notable fan-driven branding projects.
Over the years, Uganda Cranes jerseys have undergone several rebrands through partnerships with different manufacturers and sponsors, including Umbro’s redesign for the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the MTN-backed jersey unveiled ahead of the AFCON qualifiers in 2024.
The new campaign, stakeholders say, builds on that history by placing ordinary Ugandans at the center of the design process once again.
Submissions will be accepted through the MTN More platform from June 22 to July 9, 2026. Participants are also encouraged to share their concepts online using the hashtags #MyCranesJersey and #FreeYoFire.
After the submission period closes, judges will select the top seven designs, whose creators will attend a three-day boot camp from July 14 to 16 to refine their concepts with guidance from industry experts.
The process will culminate in the selection, production and unveiling of the next official Uganda Cranes jersey.
Organisers say the initiative is expected to boost Uganda’s growing creative economy while strengthening fan ownership of the national team brand.
With Uganda preparing to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament, the winning design could become one of the most visible symbols of the country’s football ambitions on the continental stage.
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