Mawejje Begins Coaching Journey at MRU, Targets More University Glory
Former Uganda Cranes international Tonny Mawejje has taken his first major step into university football management after being appointed head coach of Muteesa I Royal University (MRU).
Mawejje takes over at the Royal University following the departure of George William Ssengabi, who guided MRU to the Pepsi University Football League championship during the 2025/26 season.
The appointment marks a new chapter for the former Uganda international, who made his name as a tenacious and technically gifted midfielder during his playing career with the Cranes.
Now, rather than controlling games from the middle of the pitch, Mawejje will seek to influence the next generation from the touchline, using his experience to help young university players turn their football ambitions into reality.
His move to MRU also creates an interesting reunion with a familiar figure from his playing days.
Mawejje joins former Uganda Cranes teammate and captain Waswa Hassan Mawanda Biruma in the university coaching fraternity. Waswa currently serves in a similar role at Kansanga based International University of East Africa (IUEA), giving the former teammates an opportunity to shape the next generation of Ugandan footballers from opposite dugouts.
Mawejje will also work alongside Vincent Kayizi, another established name in Ugandan football history, as MRU seeks to strengthen its technical team and build on its recent success.
His arrival comes at a time when expectations are high at MRU.
The university recently celebrated its breakthrough Pepsi University Football League triumph under Sengabi, and Mawejje inherits a team that has already tasted championship success.
Rather than simply protecting that achievement, the former Cranes midfielder wants to use his experience to develop the players behind the trophy.
Speaking after his appointment, Mawejje said his focus will be on mentoring the young players and helping them achieve their dreams of becoming professional footballers.
He believes his experience at the highest level of Ugandan football can provide the players with valuable guidance as they navigate the early stages of their careers.
Mawejje also set his sights beyond domestic university football, expressing his desire to help MRU maintain a winning culture and compete for honours at local, regional and international university competitions.
He thanked the MRU management for entrusting him with the responsibility and pledged to use his experience for the benefit of both the players and the institution.
For Mawejje, the MRU appointment represents more than a coaching job. It is an opportunity to give back to the game that gave him a career, this time by investing his knowledge and experience in the young players hoping to follow in his footsteps.
The former Cranes midfielder now faces the challenge of turning a championship winning side into a sustainable football programme while proving that his influence on Ugandan football can be just as significant from the dugout as it was from the middle of the pitch.
