2026 Uganda Cup | Tuesday March 17 | R16
- NEC FC 2-0 Lugazi FC
Two early goals were enough for NEC FC to see off Lugazi FC 2-0 and seal a place in the Uganda Cup quarterfinals.
Played under intense heat at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo, NEC made a fast start. Gideon Odongo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, rising to head in Hakim Wandera’s corner.
Two minutes later, Samuel Ssekamate doubled the lead. He controlled well inside the box, shrugged off his marker and finished confidently after a neat pass from Richard Basangwa.
Lugazi never recovered from that quick double blow. NEC stayed in control, with Tonny Atukunda testing the goalkeeper before halftime, but the score remained 2-0 at the break.
In the second half, coach Kaddu Badru made changes, but the approach stayed the same. NEC kept pressing, and substitute James Jarieko nearly added a third, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance.
Lugazi offered little going forward, and NEC’s defence stayed solid to secure another clean sheet and a comfortable win.
The victory sends NEC into the quarterfinals for just the second time in their history. It also completes a dominant run against Lugazi this season, with three wins and no goals conceded.
NEC’s form remains strong, now unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions, with 11 clean sheets in that run.
NEC FC have joined Happy Boyz Kagaba who were the first side to clinch a quarter final spot after edging Six O’Clock 5-4 on Penalties.
The Uganda Cup Round of 16 continues later with KCCA FC hosting Onduparaka FC at Lugogo.
