By: Kayiira Jackson
On 11th in the month of April, in the Year (2001) President Museveni returned for his second term as the Fountain of Honour for the pearl of Africa (Uganda), one of the decorated women football player, a twin from Luweero District, Aminah Nakato saw her first sun.
The daughter to Mr. Kirunda Swaib and Logose Fatinah is the 4th born in the family of seven children.
The She Corporate right back is one of the most decorated players, her talent manifested in almost every tournament she took part since her childhood, named the most valuable player at Kibuli SS in 2017, won the Fufa Women Super League trophy in the 2021/22 season, a silver medalist of the CAF Women Club CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers held in Tanzania in 2022, she is a golden medalist of the FUFA Women Elite League season 2023/24, a winner of FIFA Women Cup 2023/24 all with She Corporate FC.
Education Journey:
In 2007, Nakato started her education at St Joseph’s Bombo Mixed Primary School – Luweero and sat her PLE at the same institution in 2013. For Secondary education, in 2014, the Twin joined St Mary’s SS Namaliga for her S.1, in the third team of senior two in 2015 she switched Kibuli SS – Kampala where she sat her O’level in 2017 and UACE in 2019.
In 2020, Nakato joined Makerere University Business School for Bachelor’s in International Business (BIB) and the workaholic defender is expecting to graduate in January of 2025.
Football Journey:
While in primary five at St Joseph’s Bombo, girls football was introduced in 2011.
“When I was in primary five in 2011 football was introduced, so our games teacher called whoever was participating in sports to join football too, what we did.” Nakato told this website.
The Ndejje cluster (Catholics setting) had a football tournament and St Joseph’s won that tournament and Lugoloobi Edward spotted Nakato and took her to his academy in Luweero where she found players like; Nakate Cissy (Now at She Corporate), Asia Nakibuuka (Kampala Queens), Jackie Nakasi.
“Coach Lugoloobi appreciated us and invited us to his academy where we started serious football ,I met players like Nakate Cissy,Asia. Nakibuuka,Jackeline Nakasi who helped us to improve on our ball skills.”
In that Academy, Aminah joined with Nantongo Dianah currently at Lady Doves FC.
Before joining football Nakato was a trumpeter in the School Band, she found a hard time to decide whether she goes for Nationals which were held in Masindi in 2015 or to stay but she decided to forego band and settle for football.
“I was a member in Don Bosco Namaliga brass band and I was playing a solo trumpet, I joined this band in 2010 when I was in primary four so by the time I joined football in 2011 I was best at playing a trumpet, so one time in 2012 we had to go to masindi for nationals but then it was hard for me to just go minus asking for permission from the band trainer” Nakato narrates.
“It was a challenge for him to let me go for almost two weeks therefore he refused me to go but then I decided to go because I wanted to experience how things are done in nationals and indeed it was a great experience because I witnessed girls who can really play soccer and I admired them so when we returned from Masindi, I promised myself to train so that I play like them.”
While in senior two at St Mary’s, Lugoloobi took Nakato to Kibuli for trials which she perfectly passed and got a bursary.
“I loved the game more because it had saved my mum from paying school fees and it was the best feeling ever being in such a very good expensive school and they don’t chase you for school fees that’s why I chose football.”
The 2017/18 season Nakato was playing for Luweero Giant Queens in Buganda regional league, then in 2018, she joined She Corporate FC where she won the FUFA Women Super League in 2021/22 season, losing finalists in 2022 CAF CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, won FUFA Women Elite League 2023/24, FUFA Women Cup 2023/24.
The team got relegated in the 2022/23 season from Super League to Elite and Aminah rates that year as the worst in her football career.
Profile:
Name: AMINAH NAKATO
Nickname: NAHA
Date of Birth: 11/04/2001
Place of Birth [Village]: BOMBO
Mother’s name:LOGOSE FATINAH
Father’s name: KIRUNDA SWAIB
Position: DEFENDER
Strong Foot: RIGHT
Weight: 49kgs
Height: 5.2ft
Shirt no. 2
Previous Clubs:
LUWEERO GIANT QUEENS [2017-2018]
Current Club:
SHE CORPORATES FC [2018-todate]
Role Model: ANNA SANDBERG OF MAN United, DALOT MAN United
Best players played with: VANESSA KARUNGI ,PHIONA NABUMBA ,NYAYENGA DAPHINE
Credited people; COACH LUGOLOBI OF LUWEERO GIANTS, COACH CHRISTINE WANYANA ,KIBULI SS ,MY MUM AND SISTERS LASTLY SHE CORPORATES
Achievements:
1: MVP AT KIBULI SS (2017)
2: SPORTS PREFECT (2018/19
3: CHAMPION FWSL 2021 /2022
4: SILVER MEDALIST CECAFA CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 (TANZANIA)
5: CHAMPION FWEL 2023/2024
6: CHAMPION UGANDA WOMEN CUP 2023/2024
7: MVP OF PLAYERS AT THE CLUB IN THE Month OF July 2023/2024
8 : SECRETS PLAYER OF KOSA LEAGUE YEAR 2023
Best Moments in football:
The 2021/22 season when the team (She Corporate) won the FUFA Women Super League and winning a sliver medal in CAF CECAFA Zonal Champions League Qualifiers.
Worst Moment: The 2022/23 season when She Corporate FC was relegated to Elite League.
Ambitions:
1 : play professional football
2: Make money through the sport as well as social capital
3: National team
Youth Football Career:
St Joseph’s Bombo [2011-2013]
St Mary’s Namaliga [2014-2015]
Kibuli SS [2015-2019]
Senior career (Club level)
Luweero Giant Queens [2017-2018]
She Corporate FC [2018 todate]
National Team:
Under 20 summon in 2020
No cap so far.
