Uganda Premier League | Results

• BUL 2-1 Bright Stars

BUL registered a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Bright Stars in the Uganda Premier League at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru on Wednesday evening.

It was a moment of relief as the Jinja-based side returned to winning ways after dropping four points in the last two games.

The hosts looked clumsy in the early minutes as they lost possession to John Kokas Alou but his low drive effort was collected by Tom Ikara.

Ten minutes later, Alex Kitata made a great run cutting in to find his right foot but his powerful curler went wide of the frame.

At the half an hour mark, Kitata wasted yet another cut clear chance after mistiming the bounce from Hillary Onek’s delivery.

With three minutes to conclude the first stanza, Shafick Kakande finally broke the deadlock. Isa Bugembe threaded a well weighted pass to find Kakande who planted the ball past Ikara.

Eight minutes into the second half, Walter Ochora levelled matters. Jerome Kirya’s delivery found the lanky defender at the far post before he powerfully nodded the ball past custodian Hassan Matovu.

Matovu’s howler later gifted Kirya an easy goal thus giving BUL the lead. Bright Stars’ custodian directed Kirya’s powerful effort into goal rather than palming it away.

It’s BUL’s first victory in three games after playing to a one-all and goalless draw to Mbarara City and KCCA respectively.

BUL cements its place at the summit with 37 points while Bright Stars are ninth on the log with 21 points in 17 games played.

The Uganda Cup round of 32 has been held today Wednesday, February 7 at FUFA Complex in Mengo.

The draws were held by former Uganda Cranes and SC Villa captain Andy Mwesigwa as well as Uganda Cranes assistant coach Sam Simbwa.

The draws were held while three of the round of 64 encounters have not yet been played. Express still has to travel to Myda, Simba is waiting to host BUL while URA awaits a long journey to Kumi.

The winner between Express and Myda will take on Rwenzori Lions, and the victor from the Simba and BUL will be hosted by Kyambura Rasters while whoever cliches victory from the Kumi and URA duel will travel to Calvary.

The defending champions Vipers SC have been pitted against Western Regional League’s Rugarama.

Record holders, KCCA will be on the road to play Jinja North United. To reach this stage, the Kasasiro Boys eliminated Admin FC.

Else where SC Villa will host Masaka-based Synergy FC. To reach this stage, Synergy held Mbarara City before they eliminated them in spot kicks.

The ultimate winner of the Uganda Cup takes the ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Uganda Cup round of 32

• Rugarama Vs Vipers
• Pajule Lions Vs Nsambya
• MYDA/Express Vs Rwenzori Lions
• NEC Vs Acholi United
• Mbogo Vs Young Simba
• SC Villa Vs Synergy
• Iganga Young Vs Kyetume
• Blacks Power Vs Bright Stars
• Kitara Vs Gaddafi
• Pakwach Youngsters Vs Wakiso Giants
• Dove Vs Young Elephant
• Busoga United Vs Tumbur
• Kyambura Rasters Vs Simba/BUL
• Jinja North Vs KCCA
• Busei Vs Police
• Calvary Vs Kumi/URA

Uganda U17 Women’s National Team (Teen Cranes) head coach Sheryl Botes Ulanda has named a squad of 17 players to travel to Cameroon.

Uganda will take on Cameroon in the return leg of the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

The first leg ended in a one-all draw and the contest was played at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Saturday making the return leg a decider.

Uganda got the lead through Agnes Nabukenya while Ernestine Heutcho equalized for Cameroon in a tight duel.

The 17 players will be tasked with the duty to get a positive result at Stade de Ngoa-Ekellé, Yaounde on Friday when the two teams face off again.

The winner between Uganda and Cameroon on aggregate will face either Zambia or Tanzania in the third round.

Travelling Squad

Goalkeepers

Lillian Nakilya (St. Noa SS WFC), Angella Adeke (Royal Queens FC), Dorcus Namboozo (Byafaayo Queens FC)

Defenders
Faridah Namirimu (Wakiso Hill WFC), Desire Katisi Natooro (Asubo Ladies FC), Bethany Kaluya (Bright and Hove Albion Ladies FC), Promise Kwagalakwe (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Fahima Babirye (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Joyce Kainza (Byafaayo Queens FC)

Midfielders
Agnes Nabukenya (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Esther Nangendo (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Bushirah Muhammad Nalunkuuma (Rines SS), Anitah Nambuusi (Devine Soccer Academy)

Forwards
Tamisi Shafiga (Byafaayo Queens FC), Slyvia Kabene (St. Noa Girls SS), Shadia Nabirye (Kawempe Muslim SS), Dorcus Kisakye (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC)

West Nile-based Arua Hill will not be part of Uganda Premier League’s second round. This is because the club has been demoted to the FUFA Big League.

The decision made by FUFA was made public on Tuesday, February 6 citing they had failed to accumulate the requirements needed for top-tier football.

This puts an end to the wait for the appeal as FUFA advised Arua Hill to use the remaining time of the season to prepare for the club licensing of Big League for the season 2024/25.

“FUFA appreciates your effort to fulfil Club Licensing Requirements to participate in the Uganda Premier League 2023/24. Your request has not been considered by the FUFA Club Licensing Appeals Committee,” the statement partly reads.

“The Committee has noted that Arua Sports Club has continuously violated its obligations under the FUFA Club Licensing Regulations. The decision of the FUFA Club Licensing Committee is therefore upheld,” the document further quotes.

“The club is therefore advised to prepare for Club Licensing in the Men’s second division league for the season 2024/25.”

Kongolo’s situation has grown from bad to worse. The club faced several challenges as the first round came to an end in which they fielded eight players against Kitara.

Upon releasing the second-round fixture, they were requested to put their house in order. Among FUFA’s concerns was the playing and technical staff since the previous set-up had left.

The club found itself in a poor state financially after its former owner Joel Aita called it quits, the new club chairman Hassan Takoowa has come out to tell the club fans that they will do everything in their power to see that the club regains its lost glory.

New York Red Bulls II have signed Uganda Cranes midfielder Steven Sserwadda to an MLS NEXT Pro contract.

The club announced today (February 6, 2024) that Sserwadda who has been out since April last year following surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee will be continuing with the organisation.

Sserwadda who will be entering his fourth year at the club has made 18 appearances since his debut for Red Bulls II on October 15, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In that span, Sserwadda tallied two goals and one assist.

“We have the complete belief in Steven as a person and as a player to overcome his major injury”, said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider as quoted by the club website. “We want to be there with him while he returns to the form we know he can achieve when he has fully recovered.”

The midfielder has appeared in five matches for Uganda Cranes, three of which being starts. Sserwadda made his Cranes debut on March 25 against Tajikistan.

“Steven is a talented young player that has an incredibly useful skillset in the midfield,” said Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya who is a former Cranes captain. “We have seen how he can thrive within our system, and we cannot wait to have him back in the squad.”

The New York Red Bulls II are preparing for the club’s second season in MLS NEXT Pro.

Uganda Premier League | Result

• URA FC 1-0 UPDF FC

URA FC registered a narrow 1-0 victory against UPDF in the Uganda Premier League at Metha Stadium in Lugazi on Tuesday.

The Tax Collectors maintained the perfect course securing a second victory on the bounce. The performance displayed by David Obua’s boys was not their best but they will be glad for bagging yet another clean sheet.

Bagwani engineered a quick attack before he set up James Begisa in the 13^th minute. The right back’s low drive effort was blocked by Bright Vuni in stellar fashion.

Laban Tibiita and Norman Namanya staged a brilliant inter-play to set up Begisa, whose effort was blocked seven minutes past half an hour mark before Namanya’s rebound skied above the frame.

Before the first half came to an end Viane Ssekajugo met Moses Aliro in front of goal but his diving header went wide of the frame by inches.

Coming from the changing room, the Tax Collectors threw more bodies and made their intentions clear looking for a quick goal.

Ssekajugo finally broke the deadlock with a header off Tibiita’s corner kick. The Tax Collectors gained the lead after Ssekajugo jumped highest among lanky defenders to find the back of the net.

Once again custodian Rogers Omedwa put up an exciting show that kept URA in the game thus going away with maximum points on the day.

The victory lifts URA into the sixth position with 27 points while UPDF are still locked in the red zone with nine points.

MTN Sports understands that Simon Peter Mugerwa has left Buddo Secondary School with immediate effect.

Mugerwa has been the head coach of Buddo Secondary School since 2017 but the six-year journey and the beautiful story is finally over.

Reports indicate that the mighty footballing school will be confirming the replacement of the gaffer who has taken them to greater heights.

With Mugerwa at the helm, Buddo had taken full grip of the Wakiso District football crown tormenting giants like St Mary’s Kitende on different occasions.

Under his reign, Mugerwa guided Buddo to three district (Wakiso) accolades, the 2018 National Championship and FEASSSA titles.

A source close to the gaffer disclosed that Mugerwa leaves the school he has held dear to concentrate on the assignment of guiding Police to top-tier promotion.

The Cops are on top of the Big League log with 31 points collected during the first round of the ongoing campaign.

Uganda Premier League side Vipers has promoted Abdul Nsereko to the first team roster.

Nsereko joins the long list of youthful talents that have been promoted from St Mary’s Boarding School, Kitende to the senior team.

The development was revealed via the club’s official website.

“Vipers Sports Club can confirm that young forward Abdul Nsereko has been elevated to the senior team,” the statement partly reads.

Nsereko played for FUFA Big League side Police last season before switching camps to Vipers where he will don the red, blue and white colours until 2027.

This was reached upon after impressing head coach Livingstone Mbabazi during the previous practice games and training sessions.

Nsereko is the reigning top scorer of the National USSSA games that were held in Fort Portal last year after netting 11 goals.

Most athletes across the globe have an interesting story when it comes to the early days of their career. Such stories sound unreal but help to empower the young talents seeking a reason not to give up.

When one looks at Onyango today and all the success he has achieved it’s easy to conclude that he might have found it easy which is far from the real story.

During an NBS TV interview (People and Power), he revealed how he was rejected at St Mary’s Kitende but he kept his head high and fought to bring his dream to reality.

“My first school was St Mary’s Kitende and it was a new school around 2002, they were more focused on quality players and I went to them but they did not like me by then,” he narrated.

“I wanted the school but the coach was not interested in me. I got an opportunity to go to a school in Butambala and they took me in senior two. It was difficult because I was going to the village. I got the grooming and I learned so many things the hard way,” he added.

“The pitch was not levelled with cows in the pitch and it was difficult. In life, if you don’t go through those challenges you will never grow. You know when you have a target and ambition you can go anywhere and they are willing to help me with school and football.”

In the turn of events, Onyango joined Villa two years after the major setback. It was a short stint with the Jogoo before he flew out of the country to join St George in Ethiopia.

Currently he plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Onyango is currently the most decorated player in South Africa after lifting 10 league titles and three Nedbank Cups.

He was also captain of the Uganda Cranes team that qualified for AFCON in 2017 which was the first time in 38 years.

Egyptian outfit Zamalek has finally unveiled Uganda Cranes youngster Travis Mutyaba to end the speculation on where the top talent was going to play.

Sources close to the club revealed that Mutyaba put pen to a long term five-year contract that will see him at the club until 2029.

The development was confirmed today Monday, February 5 on the club’s official social handles.

“Uganda gem Travis Mutyaba joins Zamalek,” the club confirmed the deal.

Mutyaba last played in the Uganda Premier League for 16-times record champions SC Villa and would always excite fans each time he was given a chance to play.

He is also a graduate of the FUFA Juniors League where he played for the Vipers Junior League giving a lot of trouble to defenders with his quick feet.

Mutyaba is a natural playmaker with the ability to drive the ball upfront with great composure on top of an eagle eye that always sets up teammates.

After entering the senior team of the Uganda Cranes, many believe that the move with help to sharpen Mutyaba’s ability but also groom him for bigger platforms.