Uganda Premier League

Results

Villa 2-1 URA

Busoga 1-2 Vipers

Mbarara 0-0 BUL

Bright Stars 1-0 Kitara

BUL had it and dropped it. Kitara desperately wanted it but lost it. Vipers, on the other hand, were out of it but got back in and nearly took charge of it, before SC Villa conspired to throw it away, then changed their minds and ended up winning it.

The 2023-2024 Uganda Premier League has had more swings than a circus but yesterday’s penultimate round took the drama to epic levels.

From Njeru to Kavumba, Kakyeka to Wankulukuku, the pulse of the title race went back and forth, every goal either raising or shattering expectations.

BUL started the day in first place but started their encounter away to Mbarara 43 minutes later than the other four contenders after one of the goalposts broke during the warmups. By the time BUL’s game got underway, Vipers had moved from fourth to second place as Milton Karisa’s 29th-minute strike gave them a 1-0 lead against Busoga.

In Kavumba, Kitara, who had started the day second in the standings, conceded in added time in the first half (Shafic Kakande finding the net) to fall to fourth position. Villa, drawing blanks with URA at intermission, stayed in third place.

BUL had the benefit of all this intelligence, but by halftime they were also drawing 0-0 with Mbarara, although what seems a genuine goal off a Nicholas Mwere freekick had been cancelled by referee Mashudi Ssali. Still, Abbey Kikomeko’s men were top of the log. And with Kitara losing and Villa drawing, BUL’s dream of a first league title was 45 minutes away from reaching the final league game intact.

Things got better for BUL in the second half as Vipers conceded an equaliser in the 66th-minute, off of an Emmanuel Ajo hit. But Abdul Nsereko put the defending champions back in front two minutes later. Vipers, though, could not dislodge BUL as long as the latter were drawing.

And when Bruno Bunyaga opened the scoring for URA at Wankulukuku, BUL’s chances went from good to great. Villa’s plummeted. Having failed to capitalise on a golden chance season, the record league champions were blowing it again. Until, that is, Umar Lutalo’s impeccable volley in the 82nd minute.

Hit with a combination of precision, power, and technique, Lutalo’s stunner broke URA’s resistance, and five minutes later, Villa skipper Kenneth Ssemakula completed the comeback with a long-range hit that caught out Denis Otim, swerving and dipping.

Villa were back from the dead. And back on top. Only Kitara and Bul could overtake them at that point, but Bright Stars soon confirmed their victory against Brian Ssengendo’s side. BUL still had the entire second half to break the deadlock against Mbarara and reclaim first place from Villa. They wouldn’t. 

Villa, third at the start of proceedings, wouldn’t be denied. Top for the first time this season, Villa’s resistance had paid off. The 2-0 loss to KCCA two weeks ago was supposed to be the end of Villa’s title hopes, but three straight victories have produced a most remarkable turnaround, one punctuated by an epic penultimate round of league games yesterday. 

The final judgement is due Sunday.