The 2023/2024 Uganda Premier League season has certainly conjured up an intriguing title race. Only three teams (BUL, Kitara, and Vipers) seemed the favourites but they now have SC Villa and NEC standing in their way. 

After matchday 25 last week on Friday, the table took yet another unexpected turn in terms of title contenders when NEC and SC Villa took home the three points against BUL and Gadaffi respectively to make up the top five but are kept apart by just four points with four games remaining.

Kitara who had dropped to third after their devasting loss to Vipers the previous game pulled off a 2-0 win against Express to send them back on top of the table. 

Vipers who everyone still fancies to win the title, dropped points against Maroons a day before the then table leaders BUL lost 1-0 to NEC. 

16-time record Champions SC Villa made it all more exciting by taking care of business against Gadaffi, a team striving to stay up in the top division.

That win ensured SC Villa commonly known as the Joggos caused a dramatic twist to the title sending them fourth on 45 points with a game in hand and only two points behind table leaders Kitara. 

Sc Villa are seeking their first title in 20 years since their last one in 2004, aching pain that Villa fans want to get rid of as soon as possible. 

With all the inconsistencies from the top three teams, SC Villa can hope that this year will end with joy considering how they missed last year’s title to Vipers but they will have to make up so much ground to leapfrog the table leaders.

As said before, Vipers are the team to beat because of their title credentials but their wobbles have caused a lack of trust in managers once again this season and be costly for the reigning champions in this title race.

NEC is the surprise package and disruptors in the title but despite low odds, they could pull a shocker of the century.

Ultimately, this title will go down to the wire just like we have been calling it since the start of the second round of the season but one thing is for certain, it will be decided by fluctuations in performance and the simplest of margins.