Scottish teenagers Olly and Seb Fisher poised to represent Uganda
Scottish teenagers Olly and Seb Fisher have been invited to Uganda’s youth national team training camps in Jinja and are closing in on international call-ups, the Partick Thistle duo said on 16 September 2026. The brothers travelled to Uganda after receiving invitations to under-20 and under-17 camps earlier in August and have spent the last week in Jinja, with one more week to stay.
Their eligibility stems from their mother, Kate, having been born in Uganda, and the siblings say family ties to the country run deep. Olly said: "My gran and grandad lived out here for, I think, four or five years," and added, "My grandfather came out here to teach in a school then my mum was born here. So, it's a bit of a strange one." The pair believe they would become the first white players ever to represent Uganda.
Interest from Uganda emerged about six months ago after a chance conversation between the brothers' father and a football consultant at a game in Nigeria. At the start of August both were invited to attend the national youth camps, with the brothers spending last week training in Jinja and remaining for an additional week before returning to Scotland.
The call-ups provoked strong reactions from the siblings and their family. "I couldn't believe it," 16-year-old striker Seb said. "It's one of those things you look at and you're shocked. You can't believe it. Most other people couldn't as well." Olly described his response as "A real mixture of emotions," adding: "I was quite shocked. I didn't really think that this was a possibility but I was honoured to be asked to represent Uganda. I thought it was a real big opportunity." Seb also said their mum is "ecstatic" and "thinks it'd be a great experience for us".
Despite challenging conditions, the brothers say they have been welcomed by team-mates and staff. The players reported training in "oppressively warm" conditions but said they were embracing the experience; Seb said: "Everyone has been brilliant, welcoming, really great," and added, "The other boys have been brand new with us. Some of the boys actually come from the same area where my mum was born. So, they were all talking about that."
Uganda's under-20s coach, former Hearts and Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston, is overseeing the programme and, according to Seb, suggested the Fisher brothers could make history. "Coach Kingston was saying we'd be the first white boys to play for Uganda, which would be history in the making," Seb explained. "It is very special." Olly added: "It's never been done before, so definitely it is very special."
The brothers will return to Scotland soon to combine club commitments at Partick Thistle with university and school, but plan to rejoin their new international team-mates. Olly hopes to be part of the squad if they qualify for the Under-20's Africa Cup of Nations early next year, and Seb could be in the Under-17 squad for November's World Cup in Qatar.
