Vipers top first round as UPL turmoil overshadows on-field progress

Vipers SC will resume the Uganda Premier League (UPL) season with a significant competitive advantage, holding a six-point lead at the top of the table from 14 matches as the second and decisive round begins on February 12.

The reigning champions concluded the first round on 36 points, ahead of Entebbe UPPC, KCCA FC and SC Villa, who are level on 30 points but separated by head-to-head results.

While the standings reflect Vipers’ on-field consistency, the opening half of the season has been shaped as much by administrative turmoil as by footballing performance.

The first round ended on Saturday, closing one of the most contentious starts to a league campaign in recent memory. Central to the disruption was the attempted introduction of a three-round league format, a proposal that faced strong resistance from Vipers SC and sections of the fan base across the league.

The standoff escalated into protests and boycotts, prompting the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to suspend the new format and revert to the traditional two-round system.

That decision restored a measure of stability, with Vipers returning to competition and supporters gradually returning to stadiums. However, the reversal also left critical issues unresolved, most notably the abandoned fixture between Vipers and Kitara.

During the boycott period, Vipers did not honour the match, while Kitara appeared for the scheduled double-header at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, only for the game not to take place.

FUFA subsequently ruled that results from matches already played under the suspended format would stand, on the basis that they were compatible with the reinstated two-round structure.

Yet despite repeated requests from Vipers for clarification, neither FUFA nor the UPL secretariat has confirmed the status of the unplayed fixture. The absence of the match from the published second-round schedule has intensified speculation, with reports suggesting Vipers could face a six-point deduction, a development that would dramatically alter the dynamics of the title race.

Beyond the administrative uncertainty, the season has produced several notable sporting narratives. Newly promoted UPPC have emerged as the surprise package of the campaign, finishing the first round in second place, six points behind the leaders.

Their rise has been underpinned by defensive solidity, having conceded just nine goals, second only to Vipers’ seven. Goalkeeper Rogers Omedwa leads the league in clean sheets with eight, while striker Ambrose Kigozi tops the scoring charts with eight goals.

Kitara has also exceeded expectations. After losing key players and undergoing leadership changes before the season, the Royals were widely predicted to struggle near the bottom of the table.

Instead, they occupy fifth place with 29 points, having produced a disciplined and competitive first-round performance that has challenged pre-season assumptions.

As the league enters its decisive phase, the championship race remains finely poised, shaped not only by form and consistency on the pitch but also by unresolved governance issues that continue to cast a shadow over the competition.