The Crested Cranes are once again heading into a change of leadership, with the immediate question now shifting from Sheryl Botes’ departure to who will take charge of Uganda’s senior women’s national team next.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) confirmed on Sunday, September 27, that Botes and the federation had mutually agreed to end her three-year tenure, leaving the position vacant.
In its official statement, FUFA said Botes and the federation had “mutually agreed not to continue and extend the contract, with immediate effect”, bringing her spell at the helm to an end. The federation thanked her for her work and wished her well in the future.
The timing makes the search for her successor particularly significant.
Just three days after the announcement, Botes had named a 34-player squad for Uganda’s second-round 2028 Olympic qualifying tie against Zambia, with the first leg scheduled for October 8 and the return leg on October 13.
FUFA has not yet announced who will succeed Botes.
Whoever takes over will inherit a team already preparing for a demanding international assignment, while also stepping into a position that has seen several occupants over the past decade.
Botes’ departure continues the succession of coaches through the Crested Cranes dugout.
Majidah Nantanda had a lengthy spell in charge before Faridah Bulega took over in 2017.
Bulega was later succeeded by George William Lutalo, who guided Uganda to its first CECAFA Women’s Championship title in 2022.
Ayub Khalifa and Charles Ayiekho subsequently had shorter spells before Botes was appointed.
Botes succeeded Ayiekho, who had served as interim coach during Uganda’s 2024 Olympic qualifying campaign against Cameroon.
Uganda won the first leg 2-0 but suffered a 3-0 defeat after extra time in the return leg, exiting 3-2 on aggregate.
Her three-year tenure produced contrasting fortunes across the national teams under her charge.
While the senior side endured an inconsistent run, Botes leaves with a major achievement at youth level.
In June, she guided the Teen Cranes to their second consecutive CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship title in Tanzania.
Uganda won all five matches, scored 26 goals without conceding and defeated hosts Tanzania 3-0 in the final.
The senior Crested Cranes, meanwhile, had a difficult 2025 CECAFA Women’s Championship campaign, losing 1-0 to Burundi before responding with a 5-0 victory over South Sudan, in which Sylvia Kabene scored a hat-trick.
Uganda subsequently lost 4-0 to Kenya and 2-0 to eventual champions Tanzania.
Botes was also the first foreign female coach to lead Uganda’s women’s national teams, with her mandate extending beyond the senior side to the U-17 and U-20 teams.
Now, the technical baton must be passed again.
The immediate task for FUFA is therefore not simply to fill a vacant position, but to identify the coach who will lead the Crested Cranes into their next phase, beginning with the Olympic qualifying assignment against Zambia.
The identity of that successor remains the next major chapter in Uganda’s women’s national team story.
