2025/26 Uganda Premier League | Saturday January 24 | MD13
- NEC FC 3-3 Kitara FC
NEC and Kitara FC played out a breathless 3–3 draw at Lugogo on Saturday evening, serving up one of the season’s most entertaining games and leaving fans unsure which side deserved more.
For NEC, it was a case of points dropped. Twice they led, twice they were pegged back, and even a late goal was not enough to seal victory in a contest that swung wildly from start to finish.
Kitara started on the front foot. Inside the opening minute, John Bosco Byaruhanga flashed a shot just wide before Yunus Sibira forced Benjamin Ochan into an early save from distance.
The visitors’ momentum briefly stalled in the 18th minute when Jimmy Kalema was forced off injured and replaced by George Ssenkaaba.
Against the run of play, NEC struck first. In the 27th minute, Ochan’s long ball unsettled the Kitara defence, Benjamin Nyakoojo failed to clear, and Joseph Sseremba punished the mistake with a sharp finish from the edge of the box, catching Meddy Kibirige off his line.
Kitara were left frustrated soon after when two penalty appeals were waved away, first for a suspected handball by Ibrahim Musa and then when Frank Tumwesigye “Zaga” went down in the area.
NEC made the most of that reprieve. Sseremba turned provider on the break, sliding the ball to Joseph Dhata, who calmly made it 2–0.
Kitara thought they had pulled one back before the break through Byaruhanga, but the flag denied them for offside.
The visitors returned with renewed purpose after halftime. Seven minutes in, Ssenkaaba headed home from Zaga’s free kick to spark the comeback. Coach Wasswa Bossa’s substitutions; Gaddafi Wahab, Emmanuel Wasswa and Crispas Asiki added energy and belief.
The equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute when Ochan brought down Byaruhanga in the box. Wahab kept his nerve from the spot to level matters at 2–2.
Late drama followed. NEC regained the lead three minutes from time through substitute Emmanuel Kulanga, who showed composure to control and finish low from the edge of the area.
But Kitara refused to fold and, in the 90th minute, Emmanuel Wasswa rose to head home a deserved equaliser.
Kitara stay sixth on 23 points, while NEC remain eighth with 16, an afternoon of high drama, goals and controversy that neither side will forget in a hurry.
Elsewhere, Mbarara City and Lugazi played out a goalless draw at Rwamwanja, while Express FC beat Buhimba United Saints 3–1.
Related Posts
