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Uganda has been drawn alongside Ethiopia and Burundi in Group B of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Championship, which will serve as the region’s qualifying tournament for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The draw was conducted on Wednesday at Azam Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, ahead of the tournament scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 10 to 19.
Uganda is one of 10 countries taking part in the regional competition and will compete in a three-team Group B alongside Ethiopia and Burundi.
Hosts Rwanda headline Group A alongside Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan, while Tanzania, Djibouti and Kenya make up Group C.
The tournament will be played at the Kigali Pele Stadium and FERWAFA grounds, with the opening matches scheduled for October 10. The second round of group matches will follow on October 12, before the final group games on October 14.
The top teams from the three groups will advance to the semi-finals, together with the best second-placed team.
The tournament will also determine the teams that progress to the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. According to the draw details, three countries from the CECAFA zone will qualify for the continental finals, with the venue for the main tournament yet to be determined by the CAF Executive Committee.
The draw was conducted by Juma Ladaki Chasambi, the Most Valuable Player of the inaugural edition of the CECAFA U-17 Championship. CECAFA Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi served as the draw supervisor, while presenter Patrick Nyembeera hosted the ceremony.
For Uganda, the tournament provides a regional route towards the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, with the national side needing to navigate the group stage before progressing through the knockout rounds.
Group B: Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi.
Group A: Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan.
Group C: Tanzania, Djibouti, Kenya.
