Uganda Premier League | Saturday Results – Matchday 21
- SC Villa 1-0 Vipers
- Mbarara 0-0 BUL
Vipers SC’s pursuit of the Uganda Premier League title suffered a heavy blow on Saturday after a narrow but significant 1-0 defeat to SC Villa at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.
The loss, inflicted by Charles Lwanga’s clinical first-half strike, not only ended the Venoms’ momentum but also tightened the title race, leaving their grip on the top spot increasingly fragile.
The highly anticipated clash saw Vipers aiming to reassert their dominance after NEC FC had temporarily closed the gap to just two points with a win over Express FC on Thursday.
A victory for the Venoms would have restored their five-point cushion, but instead, they encountered a determined Villa side that extended their strong home record against the champions. Notably, Vipers have now failed to win at Wankulukuku since 2021.
The game started with Villa showing early intent, pressing high and making life difficult for Vipers. Both teams missed key players. Villa’s captain Ronald Ssekiganda sat out due to injury while Vipers’ midfield dynamo Abdul Karim Watambala was suspended after accumulating yellow cards. Despite these absences, the match remained highly competitive.
A crucial moment of brilliance came in the 40th minute when Villa capitalized on a well-worked move. Elvis Ngonde threaded a precise ball through the middle to Patrick Jonah Kakande, who showed great awareness to flick it into the path of Charles Lwanga. The forward made no mistake, slotting past the advancing Alfred Mudekereza to send the home crowd into raptures.
In the second half, Vipers threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. Coach John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda, who suffered his first defeat since taking over last year, made several attacking changes, introducing Abubakali Walusimbi, Isaac Ogwang, Kenneth Kimera, and Grant Matsiko. However, Villa’s defense, led by a resolute Hillary Mukundane, stood firm.
Despite Vipers’ late pressure, Villa held on to claim all three points, further asserting their fortress status at Wankulukuku. The defeat leaves Vipers SC at the top of the table with 49 points, but now only two ahead of NEC FC, with nine matches remaining. Meanwhile, Villa moved up to seventh place on 30 points, boosting their push for a strong finish to the season.
Vipers’ failure to respond to NEC’s earlier win now means the title race is far from settled. With crucial fixtures ahead and the margin for error shrinking, Luyinda’s men must quickly regroup to avoid further slip-ups. The battle at the top remains fierce, and as the season nears its climax, every point will be vital.
Elsewhere, Mbarara City and BUL FC played out a goalless draw at Kakyeka while URA FC prepared to face bottom-placed Mbale Heroes under the Nakivubo lights later in the evening.
