Thursday, April 13 | Results

• Northern Gateway 1-2 NEC
• Kitara FC 2-2 Mbarara City
• Luweero Utd 0-2 Ndejje University 
• Jinja North 0-1 Kyetume
• Kaaro Karungi 1-1 Kataka 

10-man NEC FC edged Northern Gateway in a 2-1 victory in the FUFA Big League on Thursday at the Gate Stadium.

The chase for top-flight football saw the Bugolobi side register a hard-fought win on the road.

As early as the fourth minute, Tonny Kiberu was in the right position to give NEC FC a lead by tapping home Gideon Odongo’s curling freekick.

The visitors nearly extended the lead through Shamir Kimwero but the defender’s header was cleared off the line.

Kimwero turned deliverer with a sweet cross in the area but Bonny Okoya nodded wide of the framework.

At the top of the hour, NEC went a man down after Sulaiman Ssesaazi received a second yellow card forcing him off the field of play.

Ten minutes later, the gaffer rang changes introducing Sekaayi and Kamoga for Magu Kazibwe and Tonny Kiberu introducing fresh legs in the middle park.

Three minutes later, Northern Gateway finally levelled matters through Allan Atara hence creating hope that they could yield more.

At the very death of the game, Ssekayi placed the ball in the back of the net to claim maximum points on the road.

The result takes NEC to the second position with 47 points while Northern Gate still sits at the bottom of the log with 18 points.

NEC Remaining Fixtures 

Friday, April 14 

• Booma FC vs Lugazi FC 

Sunday, April 16 

• Soroti FC vs Police FC 

Tuesday, April 18 

• Adjumani TC vs Calvary FC

Sports powerhouse Kibuli Secondary School reigned supreme by winning the overall title at the 2023 UMEA Solidarity Games hosted by Kawanda S.S.

These games climaxed on Easter Monday after gruelling action in football (boys and girls), Netball (girls), Table Tennis (boys and girls), and Volleyball (boys and girls).

Kibuli S.S. had four gold medals in Table Tennis (singles and team events) in either gender as well as Badminton boys.

Kawempe Muslim S.S. had a sweet football double after clinching the boy’s and girls’ titles.

Ngando SS successfully defended their netball title with a hard-fought 25-20 win over hosts Kawanda SS during the final.

Mbogo High School won gold in badminton girls’ gender while hosts Kawanda SS won handball (girls) as Kakungulu Memorial High School (boys) was victorious in the boys’ category.

Kinaawa High School Mugongo and Ubuntu Hill School took the volleyball gold in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.

The chief guest Prince Kassim Nakibinge handed over the overall champions trophy to Kibuli SS.

Kitara FC hosts Mbarara FC in the FUFA Big League at Kigaaya Ground as both sides keep their sights on the summit of the log.

The Royals hope to return to winning ways after conceding a late equalizer in a 2-2 stalemate against Ndejje University in their previous outing.

In the first leg, Mbarara were the victors of the duel thanks to Henry Kitegenyi’s lonely strike at Kakyeka Stadium.

However, Mbarara also comes into this game seeking to clean their house after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Kyetume FC.

Sadick Ssempigi’s charges have proved to be poor travellers since they have failed to register a win in their last three games played away from home.

While Sam Simbwa’s troops have made Kigaaya Ground a fortress. They have played 11 games at home and are still unbeaten.

In the last four meetings between the two sides, Mbarara City has taken the lion’s share picking three wins while Kitara has been victorious once.

Kitara will miss the services of their custodian Micheal Kagiri due to a muscle injury while Lazaro Bwambale is out with a fever.

In other games, third-placed NEC FC are visitors to bottom-placed Northern Gateway. The Bugolobi will be eager to pick maximum points as the close up on the log leaders.

KCCA Football Club suffered another setback in the title race following a one-all draw with UPDF Football Club on Sunday night at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.

The draw, KCCA’s third in succession, left them five points behind leaders SC Villa though the Kasasiro has a couple of games in hand on the Jogoos.

Tshisungu Kankonde put KCCA ahead and on course for maximum points in the 57th minute but left back Daglas Oyirwoth scored at the death to deny the hosts all three points, leaving Byekwaso frustrated.

“We thought that it was over because the referee had added three minutes, we played one and didn’t concentrate that much and we conceded in that terrible moment where we couldn’t come back.

“I don’t know why they [players] missed chances. There was lack of concentration and effectiveness which is about players knowing that they must take away chances and avoid the pressure,” the tactician told the press in the aftermath.

Byekwaso called upon his charges to show character in the forthcoming fixtures if they are to win the league.

“We need to find a way of coming back if we want to be champions. We have so far lost six points,” said Byekwaso referring to the three draws.

“We need to start winning each game we are facing because once you wait to win when the league is ending, it will be difficult.”

Next up for KCCA is a short trip to Lugazi to take on URA FC on Wednesday, 19th April.

Busoga United steered clear of relegation with a 1-0 victory over struggling Onduparaka in the Uganda Premier game played at the Kakindu Stadium in Jinja on Monday.

Peter Onzima’s third-minute goal was the difference as Busoga United completed a double over the Caterpillars.

The hosts were the better side for large spells of the game while Onduparaka didn’t play with the urgency of a team fighting to avoid the drop, especially in the first half.

Busoga United took an early lead through Onzima who raced on Ibrahim Kayiwa’s long ball that was mistimed by Rashid Okocha before firing a powerful shot past the goalkeeper Mathias Okello.

The hosts dominated proceedings and could have added to their tally but they were a bit lethargic in front of goal.

Laban Tibiita had backheel fly over the bar while Onzima skied the rebound from close range after Okello had kept out Isaac Doka Mweru’s shot.

In the second half, the Caterpillars had multiple chances with Dennis Ojara and Okocha coming close to drawing them level. At the other end, substitute Nicholas Mutenza missed a sitter following a nice ball from Tibiita.

The final whistle was welcomed with joy by Busoga United.

The three points move Busoga United to 12th in the table with 22 points from 21 matches while Onduparaka remain rock bottom with 13 points from 20 matches.

Next Up

Busoga United will travel to Kampala to take on Express at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku on Tuesday, 18th April while Onduparaka will host Bright Stars at the Ababet Greenlight Stadium on Wednesday, 19th April.

Arua Hill SC and URA FC settled for a goalless draw in a cagey affair played out on Sunday at Barifa Stadium.

Isaac Ogwang and Paul Musamali all came close in the opening exchanges but could not find the target.

URA FC goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi had to come off his line to deny Geriga Atendele’s cross that was headed to find Innocent Media.

And this was the tone for the rest of the game with either side getting half chances but could not make anything good out of them.

The result leaves URA FC in fifth place on 30 points, three above Arua Hill SC who are seventh.

Sunday Results

• KCCA 1-1 UPDF
• Arua Hill 0-0 URA

Douglas Oyirowoth scored the equalising goal for UPDF in the second of added time at Lugogo to deny KCCA all points in a 1-1 draw.

Substitute Tshisungu Kankonde had put the Kasasiro in the lead by heading home Muhammad Shaban’s cross early in the second half.

Kankonde had come on for Julius Poloto when he got at the end of Shaban’s cross in the 57^th minute.

A draw, the third in a row for Morley Byekwaso’s charges leaves them five points behind leaders SC Villa despite having two games in hand.

KCCA face URA next at Lugazi in the Uganda Premier League but before that, they take on Soltilo Bright Stars in the Stanbic Uganda Cup next week.

Vipers SC’s new coach Alex Isabirye registered his first win as the Venoms overcame Blacks Power on Saturday in Kitende.

The game played under the floodlights saw Vipers SC edge Blacks Power 2-0, to bring the first win for Isabirye who joined Vipers from BUL FC last month.

The tactician had taken charge of five games and his first game ended in a one-draw against Wakiso Giants in the Uganda Cup but his charges progressed after winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout.

The next game saw Vipers draw 1-1 against Raja Casablanca before losing 2-0 to Horoya in the CAF Champions League.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, Vipers had drawn 2-2 against the Maroons in Luzira and this was the first league game under floodlights at Kitende.

Vipers won 2-0 with both goals coming in the first half courtesy of Karim Ndugwa who scored the opener in the 9th minute before Martin Kizza doubled the advantage at the stroke of halftime.

The aforementioned two players were scoring third first goals in Vipers colours, the victory sending Vipers to third place on 32 points, two above BUL FC who are fourth.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has cleared two matches to be played under floodlights this weekend.

In a statement released by the Federation, KCCA FC and Vipers SC will host games at MTN Omondi Stadium and St Mary’s Stadium Kitende respectively.

The matches scheduled to take place will be “8th April 2023: Vipers Sc vs Blacks Power FC (7 pm) at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende and 9th April 2023: KCC FC vs UPDF FC at MTN Omondi Stadium (6 pm).”

FUFA adds; “However, the FUFA Club Licensing Committee will make a report after these matches to form the basis for further matches to be played under floodlights at these stadiums.

“Any match under floodlights thereafter on any stadium in the territory of Uganda shall be held in accordance with the regulations to be published in the due course.

“The FUFA Club Licensing Committee (FCLC) is the body mandated to ensure compliance with the regulations governing the hosting of all matches (day and under floodlights).”

KCCA FC is currently second placed with 37 points from matches played while Vipers SC is fourth with 29 points and 16 matches played.