Arnold Odong is a professional footballer at Sports Club Villa in Uganda.
He was born in Gulu, northern Uganda. After losing his parents as a young child, Arnold and his two siblings were left vulnerable and unable to access basic care.
‘Life was hard, with no hope of a future, as I see it now, and no education and proper medical care,’ he recalls.
A social worker who lived near Arnold’s home noticed the family’s situation and connected Arnold to Watoto ChildCare Ministries. The organisation cares for orphaned and vulnerable children by building children’s villages where they receive holistic care to grow up healthy and whole—food, clothing, medical care, education, and most importantly, the love of a mother.
While in primary school, Arnold developed an interest in football and was enrolled at the Watoto Sports Academy to nurture his talent.
In high school, he continued to develop his skills and participated in several tournaments for his school. After completing high school, Arnold attended Makerere University Business School to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
During university, he played for the university team and was identified to participate in the Buganda Kingdom Masaza Cup. At the Masaza Cup tournament, Sports Club Villa, a professional football club based in Kampala, Uganda, and competing in the Uganda Premier League, spotted him, leading to his signing with the club to play professional football.
Arnold’s notable achievement at the club was being part of the team that secured the 2024 Star Times Uganda Premier League trophy. He played twenty-five matches that season, accumulating 2271 minutes of playtime.
During the 2024/2025 Season in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, he played a total of 24 matches and scored a goal for SC Villa, accumulating 2021 minutes of playing time. He was substituted in only twice.
While at SC Villa, he was called to join the national team (Uganda Cranes), where he was called up for qualifier games for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
His most recent star performance was scoring the first goal against Senegal during the CECAFA 3 Nations Tournament last month in Tanzania. His dream now is to play football on the international stage.
‘Playing for the national team is a privilege and an honour. It’s such a pleasure to represent my nation. I’m grateful to God and everyone who has contributed to my journey,’ he says.
