The Cranes contingent consisting largely domestic league players returned to the country on Tuesday morning from a five-day training camp in Dubai.
With Cranes coach Johnathan Mckinstry opting against playing an international friendly during that period like many of the other countries, the trip attracted criticism particularly after travel delays reduced the training camp from nine to five days.
Mckinstry however remains adamant the country made the right decision under the circumstances.
“Overall, am very pleased with the camp we have just completed in Dubai, it’s been a very worthwhile six-seven days,” Mckintsry told the Fufa website upon arrival at Entebbe on Tuesday morning.
“We have done a lot of good work not only on the field but also in the classroom.”
“And this is something you don’t often get to do in international football (window) because it tends to be match after match where your focus is on that opponent and not get much time to look at yourself on how to build for the long time."
“This last week was really about building for medium and long term, not just for the objectives of the South Sudan doubleheader in November but also looking forward to the rest of the AFCON qualifying and also the qualifying series of the World Cup as well," added Mckinstry.
Among the players expected to have benefited most from the camp include the English based duo of right back Elvis Bwomono as well as midfielder Jayden Onen.
The camp presented a rare opportunity for the pair who have risen through the ranks in the English league structure, to gel with their teammates having earned their first Cranes call ups for the postponed Afcon qualifier double header against South Sudan in March that is now due next month.
"Everyone back in London and back in Uganda is supporting me," he said after one of the training sessions in Dubai, where the Cranes are preparing for Chan 2021 finals 2022 Afcon qualifiers next month," stated Onen, a son to a Ugandan immigrant, who moved to the UK in the 70s, and a British mother.
"So I'm here to make my mark and make them proud. The first few days have been tough but the boys have been good. It's good to meet with the boys. I think I'm the youngest here, so it's good to be here and learning from these great professionals, he added.
Cranes squad
Goalkeepers: Salim Jamal Magoola (Al Hilal Omdurman, Sudan), Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume, Uganda), Charles Lukwago (KCCA, Uganda),
Defenders: Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Alex Kakuba (Desportivo Cova De Piedade, Portugal), Elvis Bwomono (Southend, United, England), Nicholas Wadada (Azam, Tanzania), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell, Scotland), Samuel Kato (KCCA, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Patrick Mbowa (URA, Uganda)
Midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA, Uganda), Karim Watambala (Vipers, Uganda), Saidi Kyeyune (URA, Uganda), Allan Kateregga (Erbil, Iraq), Farouk Miya (Konyaspor, Turkey), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers, Uganda), Jayden Onen (Reading, England), David Owori (SC Villa, Uganda), Bright Anukani (KCCA, Uganda)
Forwards: Milton Karisa (Vipers, Uganda), Alexis Bbakka (Umea, Sweden), Edrisa Lubega (Paide Linnameeskond, Estonia)
Afcon 2022 (finals PP from 2021) qualifying fixture dates
Match Day 3 and 4 (9th – 17th November 2020)
Match Day 5 and 6 (22nd – 30th March 2021)
Uganda play South Sudan back-to-back in November, and Malawi and Burkina Faso next March
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