KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN
KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.
Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.
But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.
The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.
KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.
After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.
From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.
Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.
TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE
Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.
NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.
Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.
Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.
NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.
Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.
NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.
So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.
POWER SHIFT: CITY OILERS RECLAIM DOMINANCE WITH 74-65 VICTORY OVER DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
City Oilers make a statement! Discover how new signings Joel Lukoji and Landry Ndikumana dismantled the defending NBL champions.
Ndikumana didn’t just show up—he made sure everyone knew he was back in Uganda, dropping 17 points, grabbing eight boards, and tossing three assists.
For the first time ever, City Oilers find themselves chasing instead of leading the pack in the National Basketball League. Last season, they handed over their championship crown to the Namuwongo Blazers, losing the finals 4-2. That loss stung.
Now, the Blazers are the top dogs everyone wants to knock off. But on opening night, the Oilers got their revenge, handing Stephen Nyeko’s squad their first loss of the season.
From the jump, the ten-time champs looked sharp. They ran the Blazers ragged and made a statement—this team isn’t done yet.
The Oilers’ new signings—Ndikumana, Joel Lukoji, and Joel Kayiira—gave a taste of why the team is so hyped for this season. Ndikumana, the former MVP, shot three-of-seven from deep and four-of-eight overall as the Oilers took down their rivals 74-65.
The Oilers had a plan for the Blazers: steal their best player. They signed last season’s MVP, Lukoji, and he torched his old team for 12 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Andrew Tendo’s squad started strong, leading 18-10 after the first quarter and holding a 35-32 edge at halftime. In the third, they blew the game open with an 18-8 run, quieting the Blazers fans.
Late in the game, Henry Ssebagala knocked down back-to-back threes for the Blazers, making the score look a little closer, but the Oilers were in control all night.
Baale lit it up.
Fayed Baale, wearing the legendary number 8 jersey—famous because of Ugandan basketball icon Ben Komakech—put on a show of his own. Komakech, now Tendo’s assistant and also coaching at KCCA Leopards, watched as Baale took over, pouring in 20 points and hitting four threes.
Whenever the Blazers tried to make a run, the Oilers’ point guards answered, keeping their team ahead. Captain Titus Lual came off the bench and chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Blazers weren’t at full strength. They missed three starters from last year: Lukoji left for the Oilers, Tonny Drileba is injured, and Anthony Chukwurah hasn’t arrived from Nigeria. The champs struggled, plain and simple. Only Peter Obleng (11 points) and Moses Mugisha (10) hit double figures.
Earlier, the season tipped off with the JT Lady Jaguars crushing the Pearl Queens 74-29. That one was never close.
National Basketball League Results
Men:
Nam Blazers 65-74 City Oilers
Sommet 65-56 JKL
Victoria 83-62 Rockets
KCCA 49-51 JT Jaguars