When John Paul Dembe pulled on the colours of Sigma Olomouc for the first time, there was no bravado, just quiet belief.
The Ugandan striker knows this move is not just a change of clubs, but a step closer to where he wants to be.
“I’m happy to be here and already a Sigma player,” Dembe said after completing his move from Swedish side BK Häcken.
“I’m excited that a club with such ambitions reached out to me. It’s another important step in my career.”
Those words capture the moment. Dembe has officially joined the Czech top-flight side for an undisclosed fee, opening a new chapter after two and a half steady seasons in Sweden.
At BK Häcken, Dembe grew patiently. He made 55 appearances across all competitions, scored 12 goals and added one assist, numbers built on consistency, work rate and learning his trade.
Last season, he scored four times in 24 league games, often offering more than goals through his movement and pressing.
Now he arrives at a club looking upward. Sigma Olomouc are the reigning Czech Cup holders and are balancing domestic football with a demanding UEFA Conference League campaign. European competition played a key role in Dembe’s decision.
“My goal is to work hard, improve and help the team as much as I can,” he said. “I believe we can be successful together.”
Preparation has already begun. Dembe has joined his new teammates at the club’s training camp in Marbella, Spain, as Sigma gear up for the second half of the season.
His timing is significant, Olomouc face Swiss side FC Lausanne Sport in the UEFA Conference League knockout playoff round next month, a stage that offers Dembe the chance to introduce himself to a wider European audience.
The move also carries meaning beyond the club. Dembe becomes the second Ugandan in the Czech Chance League, joining Aziz Kayondo of Slovan Liberec, another sign of Ugandan football’s growing presence on the European map.
