Ugandan football fans now have a chance to turn their match-day passion into cash.
Coca-Cola has partnered with FanBench to launch the “Essawa Yonna, Kisoboka” User-Generated Content (UGC) Challenge, with UGX 1 million up for grabs every month for fans who share their best football moments online.
The partnership was officially launched at a press conference at Motiv, Bugolobi in Kampala on Thursday, 12 November 2026.
More Than Just A Game
At the heart of the campaign is a simple truth: in Uganda, football is more than 90 minutes.
It is the friends who gather to watch, the jerseys and team colours, the match-day meals and drinks, the predictions, debates, celebrations and rituals that come with every fixture.
Through FanBench, Coca-Cola wants to give fans a platform to express that passion — and be rewarded for it.
Speaking at the launch, Barry Otieno, Senior Marketing Manager at The Coca-Cola Company in Uganda, said football is a powerful connector in Uganda.
“Football is more than just a game in Uganda. It is a passion that brings people together, sparks conversations and creates a strong sense of community,” Otieno said.
“Whether it is friends gathering to watch their favourite teams, families sharing match-day moments, the friendly rivalry between supporters or the rituals that fans have before every game, football is part of how Ugandans connect and enjoy life.”
“At Coca-Cola, we want to be part of these moments. Through Essawa Yonna, Kisoboka and our partnership with FanBench, we are giving football fans an opportunity to celebrate their passion, share their stories and connect with other fans. We are also making the experience more rewarding by giving them a chance to win through the content challenge, with UGX 1 million up for grabs.”
How To Win UGX 1 Million
Fans are invited to create and share original content capturing their football moments — how they prepare for a big match, celebrations after a goal, friendly debates with friends, watch-party experiences, or a unique match-day tradition.
To enter:
- Capture your football moment — create an original video or post
- Share it on social media — make sure your entry is publicly visible
- Tag the official Coca-Cola Uganda and FanBench pages
- Use the hashtags:
- #COCACOLAFootball #EssaawaYonna #CreateWithCOCACOLA
Winners will be selected through a leaderboard based on cumulative views on Instagram and TikTok. Fans are encouraged to be authentic, creative and original.
The challenge will reward outstanding creativity every month.
Bench Fridays Bring Fans Together Offline
Beyond the online challenge, the partnership will introduce Bench Fridays— a series of football-themed watch-alongs and interactive fan experiences at selected venues across Kampala, with more locations to be announced.
Bench Fridays will bring supporters together for live matches, football conversations, friendly banter, debates and community interaction.
The initiative also forms part of Coca-Cola’s broader Youth Voices programme , which puts young people at the centre of experiences that encourage creativity, self-expression and community connection.
Ykee Benda: “There Could Not Be A Better Partner”
FanBench is a Ugandan football culture and sports entertainment platform connecting fans through conversations, digital content, watch-alongs, live watch parties and community-driven experiences.
Its proprietor, musician Wycliff Tugume, popularly known as Ykee Benda, said the partnership is a major milestone for the platform.
“As the proprietor of FanBench, I am very excited to see this vision come to life, and there could not be a better partner than Coca-Cola, which has consistently supported great ideas, particularly those driven by young people,” Ykee Benda said.
“We believe this partnership will help us grow FanBench into a platform with global potential, celebrating football fandom and bringing supporters together through their shared love of the game. We are looking forward to building something that gives fans a voice and creates memorable experiences for the football community.”
FanBench will coordinate Bench Fridays, drive fan engagement, amplify conversations across digital platforms, and build momentum towards the grand finale.
Grand Finale: Arsenal vs Manchester United
The campaign will culminate on 20 December 2026 with a major Arsenal versus Manchester United watch party at UMA Grounds.
The event will bring together the fan communities, conversations and excitement built throughout the campaign for a celebration of football, rivalry and togetherness.
