VIPERS CRUSH UPDF 5-1; ONE POINT BEHIND UPL LEADERS KCCA
Vipers SC delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over UPDF, featuring a Mulongo double. The UPL champions are now just one point behind KCCA.
The Venoms are still crushing it, managing to win three of their last four games in a tight 12-day window.
Vipers closed in on the Startimes Uganda Premier League lead, sitting just one point behind KCCA after a solid 5-1 victory over UPDF at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday night.
Their only misstep was a 1-1 draw with SC Villa over the weekend. Coach Ivan Minnaert switched up the lineup, making five changes from the previous two games.
Even with the changes, the reigning champions didn't lose any steam against a UPDF team that has struggled, losing five of their first seven games this season.
Vipers first cracked UPDF's defence at 33 minutes when Gusto Mulongo's clumsy touch landed right in front of Captain Milton Karisa, who guided the ball past goalie Abdul Kimera.
If the first goal looked a bit offside, the second was clean. Allan Okello's pass caught the UPDF defence sleeping, and Mulongo took advantage, slipping the ball past Kimera before celebrating with his signature Congolese dance at 37 minutes.
Sam Ssekamatte cut the lead with a fantastic left-footed free kick for UPDF, but Vipers bounced back. Mulongo was left unmarked and headed in a cross from Usama Arafat on the right wing, putting the game out of reach. Forward Robin Kane Hney was unlucky when his long shot hit the crossbar and bounced in off Kimera at 56 minutes, adding a fourth goal for Vipers.
Substitute Moses Waiswa put the final touch, with Kimera letting a soft shot slip through his hands, making it a rough night for the army side.
UPDF remains near the bottom, sitting third from last with six points from eight games. Vipers jumped to third place with 16 points, just one point behind KCCA and Villa.
LIFE AFTER OKELLO: HOW ABDULKARIM WATAMBALA BECAME VIPERS' NEW MIDFIELD COMMANDER
Vipers SC dismantled Police FC 4-1 at Kitende, led by a stunning AbdulKarim Watambala goal to extend their lead at the UPL summit.
Vipers came out flying, up 3-0 by halftime against a stunned Police squad. Once again, AbdulKarim Watambala pulled the strings in midfield, making everything tick.
With this 4-1 thumping at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Vipers held onto their three-point lead at the top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League heading into the last games of the first round.
Honestly, what was supposed to be a top-of-the-table clash turned into a breeze for the defending champions. They probably played their best half of football since Ivan Minnaert took over as head coach last July.
Watambala, who’s looked like a new man since his close friend Allan Okello left, set up the opener for Milton Karisa with a clever through ball. Karisa made no mistake, poking the ball past a scrambling Mathias Muwanga in the 32nd minute.
Then came the moment of the night. Watambala picked up a pass from Enoch Ssebagala just outside the box, and with police defenders backing off, he smashed a rocket in off the underside of the crossbar. That was his third goal in two games, after his brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over URA.
Right before halftime, Odili Chukwuma put the game to bed, heading in Usama Arafat’s cross after nutmegging Richard Matovu.
Police barely threatened all evening, but Saidi Kyeyune managed to pull one back with a low shot just four minutes into the second half. It didn’t matter much. Vipers stretched their lead again in the 77th minute, when substitute Yunus Sentamu headed the ball across for Usama to tap in their fourth.
The win pushes the Vipers to 33 points. Police drop to third with 27. KCCA move into second place after brushing aside UPDF 4-0. Sammy Ssebaduka grabbed two goals, with Joel Sserunjogi and substitute Alpha Ssali also on the scoresheet.
UPL UPDATES: KCCA FC HELD IN LUZIRA WHILE POLICE FC CLOSE THE GAP AT TOP
Police FC move to second after beating Calvary, while KCCA is held to a goalless draw by Maroons in a rusty MD13 clash.
After beating Calvary, Police moved up to second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. KCCA didn't score against Maroons, and Entebbe UPPC beat UPDF, keeping the title race close on match day 13.
Police grabbed second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League after a 2-0 win against Calvary at Kiira Road on Wednesday.
Breaks during the season are usually a time for teams to regroup and let players rest after many games in a short time. But for the Uganda Premier League, there hasn't been much going on since mid-December, partly because of the 2025 AFCON.
Today's game between Maroons and KCCA in Luzira was different. Both teams seemed out of practice, which might explain the dull game that ended with no score.
Neither team seemed ready to push for a win, and there were few chances to score.
KCCA and Maroons each played one game between December 17 and today, losing to Police and Buhimba United Saints, respectively. That's just one game in 35 days.
Maroons played a physical game, preventing KCCA from controlling the ball and playing their usual style. This could be why coach Brian Ssenyondo took out Ashraf Mugume and Saidi Mayanja at halftime, replacing them with Brian Jjara and Derrick Nsibambi.
The home team kept KCCA away from the goal, and even when they brought in another striker, Emmanuel Anyama, later in the second half, they didn't get many chances.
Maroons defended well as a team to earn a point, putting them in seventh place with 16 points.
For KCCA FC, this result is a setback in their chase for the title. They are tied for first place with 27 points, the same as Police, who beat Calvary FC, and Vipers, who have two games left.
Wednesday's results:
Maroons 0-0 KCCA
Police 2-0 Calvary
UPDF 0-1 Entebbe UPPC