Abdu Lumala

Abdu Lumala

Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-07-21) 21 July 1997
Place of birth	Uganda
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Gokulam Kerala
Youth career
	Gualövs GoIF
	Mjällby AIF
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Mjällby AIF	24	(3)
2016–2019	Kalmar FF	10	(0)
2017	→ Varbergs BoIS	10	(1)
2017	→ Helsingborgs IF (loan)	10	(1)
2018	→ IFK Värnamo (loan)	22	(0)
2019	→ Syrianska FC (loan)	9	(1)
2019–2022	Pyramids	4	(0)
2022–2024	Vipers SC
2024	Slaven Belupo	4	(0)
2024–	Gokulam Kerala
International career
2019–	Uganda	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Abdu Lumala (born 21 July 1997) is a Ugandan professional footballer, Humanitarian and former asylum seeker who plays as a forward for I-League club Gokulam Kerala in India and the Uganda national team. In 2024, he founded Lumala-Abdu Youth impact (LAYI) non-profit aimed at Refugee crisis response, mentorship and establishing social homes across Africa.

Education Background

His academics began at Namirembe Infant Primary School until 2009. Little did he know, his life was about to take a dramatic turn. Lumala's educational journey continued at Old Kampala Primary School, where he completed his Primary Seven studies in 2010. He then joined St. Mary's SS Kitende for two years before taking a break for asylum and later greener pastures in Sweden.

Club career

Early years

Abdu grew up with his grandmother in the village of Kataba since his mother had died when he was just a few months old and since the father was unknown. When he was 10 he was given a Henrik Larsson-shirt as a birthday present by his aunt. In hope of receiving a better life his grandmother sent him away to the capital Kampala when he was 16. Abdu took many jobs, mostly washing cars before he met a few white Europeans who managed to get him on a plane to Sturup Airport.

Sweden

He was left alone on the streets of Malmö and there he contacted Migrationsverket. They managed to get accommodation for Abdu in the little town of Bromölla. There he started training with the local club Ifö/Bromölla playing in the Swedish 5th tier, but after not managing to find any football shoes he and a friend moved to 9th tier side Gualövs GoIF. He was instantly made captain and after scoring 20 goals in 10 games big local club Mjällby AIF signed him in the summer of 2014. He played the rest of the year with the U17s and U19s. Before the next season Abdu was moved up to the A-Team playing in Swedish second division Superettan. He impressed, scoring 3 goals in 24 games being only 17 when the season started. The rumours of his talent spread and clubs like Malmö FF and Olympiacos wanting to sign him.

Kalmar FF

Abdu instead ended up in Swedish top flight club Kalmar FF. In his first season, he played 10 league matches.

Loans

Ahead of the 2017 season Abdu was loaned out to Superettan club Varbergs BoIS. After half a season with the club, he returned to Kalmar FF just to be loaned out once again, this time to his idol Henrik Larsson's mother club Helsingborgs IF. He made his debut in a game against GAIS. At the back of Abdu's shirt it says "Lumalinho".

Pyramids FC

In July 2019, Abdu joined Egyptian Premier League club Pyramids FC where he linked up with former Uganda coach Sébastien Desabre.

Slaven Belupo

On 27 March 2024, Abdu returned to Europe and signed a contract with the Croatian club Slaven Belupo.

Gokulam Kerala

In July 2024, Abdu joined Indian I-League club Gokulam Kerala.

International career

He made his Uganda national team debut as a starter on 9 June 2019, in a 0–0 friendly tie versus Turkmenistan.

Style of Play

A dynamic and clinical forward, Lumala Abdu is renowned for his goal-scoring ability and versatility. Capable of playing as a traditional center-forward or mobile, roaming striker, Abdu's pace, agility, and technical skill allow him to exploit spaces and create scoring opportunities. Tactically, Abdu has evolved into a flexible and intelligent attacker, adapting seamlessly to various formations and roles. His strength and aerial prowess make him a formidable target-man, while his vision and passing range enable him to link play and create chances for teammates.

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 July 2019

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cups		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gualövs GoIF	2014	Division 7 Blekinge	10	20	–		–		–		10	20
Mjällby AIF	2015	Superettan	24	3	3	1	–		2	0	29	4
Kalmar FF	2016	Allsvenskan	10	0	5	2	–		–		15	2
Varbergs BoIS (loan)	2017	Superettan	10	1	–		–		–		10	1
Helsingborgs IF (loan)	2017	Superettan	10	1	–		–		–		10	1
IFK Värnamo (loan)	2017	Superettan	22	0	2	0	–		2	0	26	0
Syrianska FC (loan)	2019	Superettan	9	1	–		–		–		9	1
Career total			95	26	10	3	0	0	4	0	109	29

International

As of matches played on 16 July 2019

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Uganda	2019	6	0
Total		6	0

Global Health Advocacy and Humanitarian work

At just 13, Lumala Abdu joined the United Against Malaria campaign, leveraging football to raise awareness about malaria prevention and treatment in Africa. As a young global health ambassador, he traveled extensively to Addis Ababa, Brussels at the European Union, and the United Nations headquarters in New York for key summits, Brussels etc. Lumala’s passion for advocating against the devastating impact of malaria led him to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he participated in high-profile MTN advertisements in Johannesburg, raising awareness about the disease, meeting influential figures like Presidents Thabo Mbeki and JB Kebosa, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

His personal story has since become a target at international summits, symposiums and conferences where he lends his voice to topics around peace, humanitarian work, global health and economic policy.

Rooted in his own experiences of overcoming hardships, he has made it his mission to uplift underprivileged youth and contribute to social development through multiple social impact projects.

Parallel to his sports career, Abdu had for the longest time been doing school fees charity to his friends and upcoming footballers and funding initiatives on an individual level until in 2024 he founded the Lumala Abdu Youth Impact (LAYI). Here he is leading a non-profit movement focused on youth empowerment, health advocacy, and refugee support. Under LAYI, he implements programs supporting young athletes, encouraging them to use sports as a vehicle for growth, education, and health awareness.

Under his guidance, the organization provides scholarships for talented young athletes, funds health and hygiene workshops in local schools, and organizes sports tournaments to encourage youth engagement in constructive activities. LAYI’s ongoing projects include distributing malaria nets to prevent disease spread, promoting mental health awareness, and providing young people with critical life skills for their personal and professional growth.