Hashim Sempala officially joined Kenya Premier League leaders Gor Mahia from rivals Tusker on the Kenyan Premier League transfer deadline last night.
The Ugandan penned a two-year deal with the champions and becomes the fifth foreigner in the squad.
The defensive midfielder is the third Ugandan in K’Ogallo after Shafik Batambuza and Erisa Sessikambu joined at the start of the season.
K’Ogalo have lacked services of a holding midfielder since Ernest Wendo picked an injury last month.
At his departure from Tusker, Sempala was the club’s captain but was among the players who had reportedly fallen out with coach Robert Matano, which is the reason why he was warming the bench in recent times.
Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay was elated to sign the Ugandan star.
“I watched him play against us in the first leg and I was like, he deserves to play for Gor Mahia. He is a very good player, technically gifted when with the ball and also has the physique to take on any player,” Oktay told Goal in an interview.
“I only wanted to sign one player this window and it was him, I told our office to get him quickly and I am happy that he has finally arrived. He will definitely help us in our quest to retain the league title and also to perform well in the domestic competition.”
The Ugandan joined Tusker FC from BUL FC and won a double with the Kenyan side in the 2016 season – the KPL trophy and GOtv Shield Cup. In Uganda, he also featured for Uganda Revenue Authority and Express FC.