One of the most iconic scenes in Ugandan women’s football is from a moment in the 2022/23 Fufa Women Super League season when Shamirah Nalugya and Cissy Nantongo fixed each other’s armbands.
At the height of the battle between their respective clubs Kampala Queens – which eventually won its first league title that season – and She Corporate – whose title defence that season slipped into relegation, the captains chose to show us that there is more to life than football and Fufa’s Stephen Mayamba captured the moment.
This week, that message was even clearer when Nantongo was pronounced dead on Wednesday night.
The combative midfielder whose football journey was full of so many comeback stories, unfortunately lost a quiet battle to breast cancer. The death, like its cause, shook women’s football to the core.
“She did not want to make public (her illness),” She Corporate chairman Richard Kaweere, shared.
Daily Monitor learnt that Nantongo has battled the ailment for over a year. She put up such a brave fight that it was hard to tell she was ailing in any way. From time to time, her name appeared on the She Corporate match sheets as a substitute.
In some cases it was surprising that she was an unused substitute but largely, She Corporate have enjoyed a rich vein of form this season that selection decisions rarely became a question.
But even those close to her kept anticipating her return because whenever Nantongo could, she was present for her club.
“It is so sad to lose her. We treated her and she even got out of danger. In fact, she even started training and from nowhere, she got some kind of paralysis,” Kaweere further shared.
Nantongo’s last battle was quiet too and took over a month at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago. She was briefly involved in matchday squads during the title run-in in March.
“If anyone was keen, they would have noted that she did not even warm-up for those games (in late March). After that, she fell ill and was re-admitted.
“She left us top of the table and I would not be surprised if she did not know how the season ended. We tried to keep football issues away from her.
“But last weekend, we (club officials and captains) visited her before our Fufa Women Cup match (which they lost to Wakiso Hill on penalties). She was very weak,” Lutwama added.
Passion and drive
Nantongo, who are friends called Kajozi, wore her passion on her sleeves.
Off the pitch, Nantongo was an endearing innocent personality. She always wore her smile and interacted freely with those she knew. That is perhaps why tributes have flown from teammates, opponents, and fans across the divide in equal measure.
On pitch she spoke when she had to. But she was more about actions. What she did in each moment signified the intent of the team. If she wanted them to get a bit physical, Nantongo was not afraid of sticking a boot where it hurt for a troublesome opponent. If she wanted control, she took a few extra touches on the ball.
She was of medium height and had an athletic body frame that she used well. She specialised in breaking down attacks in front of her defence and even though she had commendable passing range, she excelled more in possession when she was picking out more creative teammates that were close to her.
Interestingly, when she was younger, she took penalties – even in a team that had a striker like Fazila Ikwaput who loves to score goals like her breathing depends on it. That was the story of the inaugural 2017 Fufa Women Cup final.
Nantongo had joined Olila High School, alongside her long time friend Vanessa Edith Karungi, on loan from She Corporate.
The duo met years earlier at St. Mary’s College Kitende but after girls’ football had been banned there, they joined Kakungulu Memorial School, where they played with Nalugya. Kakungulu’s girls’ football team also fell into trouble so Nantongo and her friends moved to Mukono High School, which they led to the 2017 Uganda Secondary School Sports (USSSA) title with Nantongo as captain.
She Corporate loaned Nantongo and Karungi to Olila which they also led to Cup glory in Busia at the expense of Asubo Ladies – then Gafford. After the latter took a first half lead through Evelyn Kakayi, Ikwaput was fouled in the box at the start of the second half.
Nantongo dispatched the penalty for the game to end 1-1 in regulation time. Olila won 3-1 in the shootouts as Karungi saved against three takers from Gafford.
Eventually, they returned to She Corporate. But while Karungi moved to Denmark in May 2021, Nantongo inspired a She Corporate side that barely had weaknesses to the Fufa Women Super League title in the 2022 season.
Such was how good they were that they also made it to the finals for the Cecafa region’s Caf Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Dar-es-Salaam that year.
Unfortunately, She Corporate could not establish a dynasty. They struggled to manage their success and were relegated in the 2022/23 season.
Nantongo captained them in the second tier Elite League in the 2023/24 season leading them to the title and the Fufa Women Cup before going to Nepal for a short stint with Wailing Municipality. At about the same time, she established her CN18 brand.
Tribute
Unfortunately, her health issues started surfacing in the 2024/25 season and they deprived She Corporate of her leadership qualities for a long time. We will never know if they would have lost the 2025/26 FWSL title to Kawempe on the final day if she had been actively involved in the squad.
“There is a lot I can say about you naye muganda wange ogenze naye tondese kyekiimu (but your departure has not left me the same). It hurts more that I won’t be able to pay my last respects to you but I will always cherish you… Cissinho,” Karungi posted after paying homage to the journey they enjoyed together through their teenage years. Her eulogy was one of many that came from Nantongo’s now former teammates and opponents alike.
Ronah Reginah Nantenge, who played with Nantongo as a partner in midfield or on the wings, posted: “Thanks for fueling us. The kind and harsh words that shaped me (us), captain. I remember we once wanted to fight when we lost a game against Lady Doves 5-0. It was out of passion and we won the next game 5-0. Thanks for giving your best for the team. All evident in what you’ve won,” while their left back then Miriam Ibunyu added that it is “very sad! A soldier that would never quit or give up on herself, a fighter and a strong woman. Cissy, you have left us with broken hearts, wounded souls.”
Molly Naava, She Corporate’s current keeper, said “it is hard to take that you are no more, Cissy. We shall always remember your leadership both on and off pitch for you have been one of our strongest pillars.”
Photojournalist Asha Kamira said “Cissy was one of the few people who showed me kindness when I was finding my way as a club photographer and later a media officer of She Corporate. Today, I came across her words: If you don’t see me tomorrow, tell my mum her name is my password. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them.”
Nalugya said, “You fought the battle but from Allah we come and we shall return. Rest with Angels my sister. I am speechless” while Hasifah Nassuna added: “Rest with angels Kajjozi. It is very unfortunate that we could not help you. We are late…”
Lots of tributes continue to flow for a life lost so young but Nantongo will be fondly remembered for her passion, leadership, and making her craft look so easy. Rest in peace, Cissy!