Mbarara City FC is preparing to enter a new era, with the club set to change its identity to Ankole Football Club as it seeks to establish itself as a club representing the wider Ankole sub-region.
The proposed rebrand comes as the club approaches its 10th anniversary on August 25, 2026, having built a consistent presence in Uganda’s top two football divisions since its establishment.
Mbarara City was formed in 2016 following a merger between Citizen High School and Wakiso Town Council FC.
In the decade since, the club has spent eight seasons in the Uganda Premier League and two in the FUFA Big League, making it the only club from western Uganda to maintain a continuous presence in either of the country’s top two tiers during that period.
Ahead of the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League campaign, the club has already notified the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) of its intention to adopt the name Ankole FC, with the change expected to come into effect next year.
Club chairman and president Hon. Mwine Mpaka says the move is intended to broaden the club’s identity and create a stronger connection with supporters across the entire sub-region.
“Mbarara City has been looked at and, when you look at the club logo, it has Mbarara City FC, but below it is Ankole Lions.
Our original intention was to have it more appealing to the entire western region, and specifically Ankole, where it is found, not just Mbarara City as a single administrative unit,” Mpaka said.
According to Mpaka, the club’s existing nickname, Ankole Lions, already reflects its wider regional ambitions, but the leadership believes that adopting Ankole FC as the official name will provide a clearer identity and encourage broader support.
“So, in order to have the club appreciated because it is the club that is in Ankole, we have decided not only to leave it as Ankole Lions but rebrand it to Ankole FC because it is a club for the entire sub-region.
We want everyone to embrace it and support it, not only in Mbarara but in all the districts within the region,” he added.
The rebranding is therefore expected to go beyond a change of name, with the club seeking to position itself as a footballing representative of Ankole and build a wider support base across the region.
The proposed transformation also comes as Mbarara City prepares for another Uganda Premier League campaign, with the club hoping its new regional identity will provide a stronger foundation for its ambitions on and off the pitch.
