Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC have turned down a €250,000 bid from Tanzanian giants Simba SC for their attacking midfielder and Ugandan international Allan Okello, Footy-Africa can exclusively confirm.
Simba had emerged as the clear favourites to land the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League top scorer (19 goals), ahead of Belgium’s Royal Antwerp and Egypt’s Pyramids FC, who are also interested in the player. However, once their offer was submitted, Vipers rejected it and subsequently suspended all talks.
An exclusive source at Vipers confirmed the bid from Simba was turned down, with the club’s president, Lawrence Mulindwa, demanding a fee in excess of €300,000. Reportedly, the president is placing a high valuation on the player as he is reluctant to let him leave, especially with the CAF Champions League approaching. Okello’s current contract runs until the end of the 2025/26 season.
“Simba sent their written bid of €250,000 on Friday evening, but Vipers president Lawrence Mulindwa rejected it. He’s demanding over €300,000, but this is to fend off interest. He wants a strong team for next season’s Champions League, and Okello has been their best player. Pyramids and Royal Antwerp are also interested, but they are yet to submit official bids. This window could take several turns, depending on whether he stays at Vipers or eventually leaves,” Footy-Africa was exclusively informed.
In the Uganda Premier League last season, the 24-year-old scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 29 games. The former FUFA Player of the Year (2019) also netted three goals in the Super 8 tournament and the Uganda Cup. He was instrumental in helping the club secure both the league title and the Uganda Cup in the 2024/25 campaign.
In the 2023/24 season, the midfielder—whose Transfermarkt valuation is estimated at €250,000—recorded five goals and six assists in 25 appearances. He has previously featured for KCCA FC and Algerian top-tier side Paradou AC. With KCCA, he registered an impressive 39 goals and 42 assists in 119 games.
Internationally, Okello made his debut for the Uganda national senior team, the Cranes, in 2019. He has since made 23 competitive appearances, scoring four goals and providing eight assists. He was key in helping Uganda qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and is also part of the squad summoned for this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN).
