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Kagere regains Rwandan citizenship, waits Amavubi recall


Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere has announced his wish to resume playing for the Rwanda national team after regaining the country’s citizenship.

The 32-year-old footballer was born in Uganda and later acquired Rwandan citizenship.

He was, however, stripped off his Rwandan citizenship after it emerged that many foreign players in the country had acquired Rwandan passports illegitimately.

The decision to withdraw citizenship of more than 60 footballers was made by the authorities after Rwanda was disqualified from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier for using a player with double identity.

Kagere-Rwanda
Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere kisses the Rwandan flag after being sworn as a Rwandan citizen at the City Hall in Kigali. PHOTO | COURTESY

RWANDAN CITIZEN

Kagere was sworn as a Rwandan citizen at the City Hall in Kigali on Tuesday after completing his naturalization process.

The oath clears him to resume turning out for the Amavubi, the country’s national football side.

“It’s an amazing feeling to get Rwandan citizenship because I had waited for this day for a long time,” said Kagere, who flew to Kigali on Tuesday for the occasion.

“I cannot wait to pull on the shirt (of Amavubi) again.”

Considered one of K’Ogalo’s most successful imports in recent times, Kagere earned his first call up for the Amavubi in 2011.