Who is Emmanuel Okwi? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Florence Nakalegga, Meddie Kagere captain Olivier Karekezi, Denis Onyango, SC Villa, Simba, Young Africans, Etoile Du Sahel, SønderjyskE Fodbold, Al Ittihad, Kiyovu and Al-Zawraa Sports Club the early life and education of a professional football player from Uganda.
Emmanuel Okwi also known as Emmanuel Arnold Okwi is a professional football player from Uganda.
Okwi plays for the Uganda national team and is the current Captain of Uganda Cranes after Denis Onyango retired. He also plays as a left winger for Egyptian Premier League club Al Ittihad Alexandria Club.
Emmanuel Okwi has played for several Sports clubs including; SC Villa, Simba, Young Africans, Etoile Du Sahel, SønderjyskE Fodbold, Al Ittihad, Kiyovu and Al-Zawraa Sports Club.
Early Life and Education
Emmanuel Okwi was born on 25, December 1992, in Wakiso District, Uganda.
He was born into a Roman Catholic family although, at an early age, his mother converted to a Born Again Christian and raised him Okwi and his siblings in the Born Again faith.
Emmanuel Okwi married Florence Nakalegga in June 2015 and together they have two children.
During his secondary studies at St. Henry’s College Kitovu, Okwi was already playing football.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Okwi began his career with Uganda Super League club SC Villa before joining Tanzanian club Simba S.C. for a fee of US$40,000.
He was signed by the Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel in January 2013 for a Tanzania transfer record cost of $300,000. However, the team was unable to pay the fee to Simba S.C.
In December 2013, he was cleared by FIFA’s Player Status Committee to return to SC Villa, but the clearance was amended two months later so he could play for Young Africans S.C., despite Simba S.C.’s protestations.
Okwi returned to Simba S.C. in August 2014 on a six-month deal after Young Africans S.C. terminated his contract for failing to pay the US$50,000 that was owed to him. Okwi refused to play the final five games of the 2013-14 season for Young Africans due to the salary dispute.
Young Africans strongly opposed the move to Simba S.C., claiming that the contract remained in effect. However, in September 2014, the Tanzania Football Federation dismissed that claim.
Danish Supaliga club, SønderjyskE Fodbold signed Okwi to a five-year contract extension until 2020 in July 2015, with the approval of Simba S.C. Okwi later agreed to end the contract in January 2017. In six appearances, he had scored two goals.
Okwi returned from Denmark and signed a six-month contract with his former club SC Villa. In 13 Uganda Premier League games, he scored 10 goals.
Okwi signed a two-year contract with Simba S.C. for the third time in his career in June 2017.
He then signed a two-year contract with Egyptian Premier League club Al Ittihad in July 2019 after performing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Achievements and Awards
Okwi made his senior debut for Uganda in 2009. He was the second-highest scorer in the 2010 CECAFA Cup, with four goals in five games.
At the 2011 CECAFA Cup, Okwi scored five goals and was one of the joint top scorers with Rwanda’s Meddie Kagere and captain Olivier Karekezi.
Controversies
Okwi was allegedly accused of witchcraft when playing in Tanzania due to his hairstyle.
