Africa-Press – Uganda. Kioga County has been crowned champions of the maiden Dwog Pacu Cup after a commanding 3-0 victory over Lira City West in the final played on Sunday at Uganda Technical College (UTC) Lira.
The triumph marks a historic milestone for Kioga, representing Amolatar District, as they lifted the first-ever title of the regional football tournament designed to unite and unearth talent from across the Lango Sub-region.
“This is a win we deserved. We’ve played with heart, discipline, and purpose,” said Rev. Canon Jimmy Mark Ejon, head coach of Kioga County.
“As a coach, I feel proud. I’ve added value, and I thank my players and the organisers for this great vision.”
Goals from Brian Ocen, Denis Opio, and Patrick Ogwal sealed the win for Kioga, who dominated the match despite early threats from Lira City West.
Ocen and Opio struck in the first half before Ogwal added a third after the break to put the contest beyond reach.
Lira City West’s coach, Ronald Okello, praised his team’s run to the final but admitted they were outclassed on the day.
“We had a good run and won all our games until today,” he said. “We created chances but didn’t convert. Our opponents used theirs well. We’ve learned lessons and will bounce back.”
The Dwog Pacu Cup—a Luo phrase meaning Come Back Home—was conceived to reconnect football talent from across Lango’s 13 constituencies and promote unity through sport.
It featured teams from Kioga County, Lira City East and West Divisions, Dokolo North and South, Alebtong, Moroto (Alebtong), Otuke East and West, Erute North and South, and Oyam North and South.
Matches were played across various venues, with knock-out rounds, group stages, and quarter-finals leading up to the grand finale in Lira City.
Kioga reached the final after edging Dokolo North in a tight semi-final, while Lira City West booked their spot by defeating Oyam South.
Beyond the fierce competition, the tournament stood out for attracting high-profile players from the national scene who returned to represent their home constituencies.
Among them:
Denis Okot Oola (Oyam South), former Uganda Cranes and Uganda Premier League defender, who anchored his team’s backline;
Ceasar Okhuti (Erute South), retired Cranes striker and youth mentor, who served as a guest player and advisor;
Richard Okello “Gatusso” (Otuke West), a local fan favourite with experience at Police FC;
Isaac Ogwang (Dokolo South), a rising star recently shortlisted for the national U-20 trials.
Their involvement gave the grassroots tournament a professional edge and inspired hundreds of young players from remote villages across the region.
“This tournament is about more than football,” said Janan Okello, General Secretary of the organising committee.
“We launched it to tap village talent, promote unity, and bring people together. Our theme this year was Greening Lango. Every man of the match received trees to plant. We’re building both talent and climate awareness.”
Despite limited funding and logistical challenges, including crowd control and transport costs, the organisers hailed the event as a major success.
“This is just the beginning,” Okello added. “We have a five-year license, and next year, we’ll do it even bigger. If Akii-Bua Stadium is ready, that’s where we’re going.”
As fans poured onto the pitch to celebrate Kioga’s victory, the mood in Lira was one of hope—not just for football, but for a future where local pride and regional unity go hand in hand through sport.
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