When the season ends in North Macedonia, Rogers Mato will close one chapter and open another, this time in Edinburgh.
The Uganda Cranes forward is heading to Heart of Midlothian, carrying ambition, expectation and the hopes of a nation to Tynecastle Park.
Early reports linked Mato with a move to Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City, but the real destination has now been confirmed.
The 21 year-old has agreed a three-year deal with Hearts and will join the Scottish Premiership club in the summer when his contract with FK Vardar expires.
Hearts announced the signing with quiet confidence, pleased to have secured one of Uganda’s brightest attacking prospects.
For Mato, it is the reward for a journey built on patience and steady progress rather than overnight headlines.
His rise began at Proline FC before a move to KCCA FC put him firmly on the local radar. From there came a leap abroad, first to Turkey with Şanlıurfaspor, then to North Macedonia, where spells at Brera Strumica and FK Vardar helped sharpen his game and harden his edge.
Interest followed. Clubs in Turkey and the United States watched closely, but Hearts moved decisively, offering Mato a platform on one of Scotland’s most demanding stages.
The move also carries history. Mato becomes the fourth Ugandan to wear the famous maroon shirt, following David Obua, Mubiru Ikpeazu and Toby Sibbick, names that still resonate with Ugandan fans.
On the international scene, Mato has already shown his nerve. At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he was one of only three Uganda Cranes players to score, delivering when the pressure was highest.
Scottish football is no stranger to Ugandan talent. Ikpeazu now plays for St Johnstone, while John Jordan Obita lines up for city rivals Hibernian.
Mato’s arrival at Tynecastle adds another Ugandan story to the Premiership and a new voice to Edinburgh’s fiercest rivalry.
