Buhimba’s promotion bid falters ahead of FUFA Big League finale

FUFA Big League

Buhimba 3 Kigezi 4

Paidha 2 Kiyinda 1

Gaddafi 0 Blacks Power 0

Onduparaka 0 Calvary 0

Busoga Utd 7 Booma 0

MYDA 2 Kaaro 0

Ntungasaze 1 Kataka 0

Considered by many as favourites to secure promotion to the Uganda Premier League next season with ease following a strong second-round performance in the FUFA Big League, Buhimba now find themselves on the brink of disappointment after faltering at a critical moment.

A 1-1 draw against Kaaro Karungi, followed by a dramatic 4-3 home defeat to Kigezi Home Boys on Sunday, has left the Hoima-based side in serious danger of missing out on a historic promotion to the topflight.

Going into Sunday’s match at Kigaaya Playgrounds, Buhimba needed nothing short of a win to seal their maiden qualification with a game to spare. Hundreds of their fans from Kikuube, Hoima, and Masindi turned up in anticipation of witnessing history. Instead, they were left stunned as relegation-threatened Kigezi, visiting from Kabale, took a shock early lead, doubled it, and went into halftime leading 2-1.

Despite a spirited fightback, Buhimba were ultimately undone by Kigezi’s resilience. A late strike in the 85th minute by Joseph Seremba sealed the visitors' 4-3 victory, leaving the Kigaaya faithful in stunned silence while others were in tears.

That loss saw Buhimba drop to second place on the table, still level on 49 points with leaders Calvary, but with promotion now hanging precariously on the final match day.

Sunday proved to be a day of drama across the FUFA Big League. Promotion contenders Blacks Power and Gaddafi played to a fierce 1-1 draw at the Entebbe Works Grounds.

On Blacks Power’s side, they played the entire second half with ten men following Paul Oonyu’s first-half red card. The two teams had entered the match separated by a single point, with Gaddafi occupying the final promotion slot and Blacks Power in fourth. A win was crucial for both, but neither side managed to find the decisive goal.

Elsewhere, Calvary were held to a goalless draw in Arua City by West Nile rivals Onduparaka. The big winners of the day were Paidha Black Angels, who kept their promotion hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Kiyinda Boys at Midigo Playgrounds.

As the league heads into its final match day this Saturday, the promotion race for the top three slots remains wide open. The top five teams, Calvary (49 points), Buhimba (49), Gaddafi (47), Blacks Power (46), and Paidha (46) are all still mathematically in the hunt. Each will need not only a win, but also favourable results from their rivals to clinch promotion.

The stage is set for a thrilling climax, Calvary will host Paidha Black Angels in a high-stakes showdown at Midigo Playgrounds, Buhimba will travel to face Ntungasaze at Bertham City Grounds in Wakiso, Gaddafi will visit a tricky Kataka side in Mbale City, and Blacks Power will be at home against relegation-threatened Busoga United, who themselves must win to survive the drop.