While BUL were on the verge of lifting the Uganda Premier League title, Busoga United and Gaddafi were relegated to the FUFA Big League.

Busoga United were promoted to the top tier after the 2015- 2016 campaign before they found their way back to the second tier after the recent season.

In the 2017/18 campaign, Busoga United finished fifth before they moved a position above in the 2019/20 season but from that point, things went south.

The club struggled with financial troubles and management constraints before they finally sealed their ticket to the Big League.

Emotionally, players Lawrence Tezikya, Jeromy Kirya and gaffer Abby Kikongo led BUL as they beat Busoga United to confirm their painful relegation.

In the same breath, Gaddafi was also relegated after two seasons in the top tier. After the recently concluded campaign, BUL remains the only team in Jinja.

After a wait of 20 years, SC Villa finally won the Uganda Premier League lifting the record 17th title.

Kenneth Semakula emotionally revealed that it’s a special feeling winning a title for SC Villa because it’s the ‘biggest’ team in the land.

“Winning for a club as rich as SC Villa is very special. Every player out there would love to be part of such great history,” he stated.

“I am so happy that as a team we fought and our hard work paid off [with] positive fruits. It’s such a beautiful feeling and it will last forever because it’s my best moment,” he added.

Semakula was on target with a blockbuster netting the winning goal against URA in the 2-1 victory sending the Villa into the last league game on the log summit.

The skipper revealed that the players’ confidence has been boosted by the trust entrusted to them by the Serbian gaffer Dusan Stojanovic.

“The coach has been great for us as players. He trusted us and I am glad it has paid off. The last season was tough for us, but we needed to focus on this one. However we planned for every game and I think that is why we emerged as victors,” he said.

“When you join Villa, you must grasp the club’s significance and its history. Most importantly, you feel the pressure from the fans; they drive you and you sense their passion in each and every game.”

Uganda Premier League side URA Football Club has appointed Alex Isabirye as their head coach.

Isabirye comes in as a suitable replacement for David Obua who was relieved from duty in the recent campaign.

The development was confirmed on the club website today Monday, May 20, 2024.

“We are delighted to officially announce the appointment of Alex Isabirye Musongola as our new head coach,” the statement partly reads.

In the same breath, the club CEO Allan Munaba revealed that everyone at URA is optimistic that Isabirye will take them back to their glory days.

“We are optimistic that Isabirye’s return will revive our glory days, with his vast experience and previous success as the key assets,” he said.

“His immediate challenge will be preparing the squad for the grand opening of the newly refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium where we last won our league title as home ground,” he added.

It will be the second time Isabirye serves the club. The gaffer managed the club in the 2010/11 season before clinching the Uganda Cup in 2012.

URA finished eighth in the 2023/23 Uganda Premier League season with 40 points in 29 games.

Uganda Premier League | Results

• NEC 0-2 SC Villa
• Busoga United 0-3 BUL
• URA 1-1 Bright Stars
• Maroons 1-1 KCCA
• Kitara 3-0 Gaddafi
• Wakiso Giants 0-1 UPDF 
• Vipers 4-1 Mbarara City

SC Villa has lifted the 2023/24 Uganda Premier League title after a 2-0 victory against NEC at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.

Charles Lwanga and Hakim Kiwanuka were on the target as SC Villa ended the 20-year-long wait to once again test the joy of being a champion.

 It was a tense game as both sides shared the possession equally seeking an early lead though the first half ended goalless.

However, SC Villa kept composed and hardly got a foot off the glass pedal as they pegged NEC on the back foot.

Lwanga broke the deadlock in the 66th minute with a header off Umar Lutalo’s darling delivery in the dangerous area.

Lwanga’s header sparked off celebration from the visitors who had turned up in high numbers to witness the memorable occasion.

In the dying minutes, Kiwanuka sealed the victory with a calm finish after being set up by Jonah Patrick Kakande.

The victory takes Villa to 57 points to clinch the title while NEC finished sixth with 48 points in 29 games.

Villa were the deserving champions of the league under the guidance of Serbian gaffer Dusan Stojanovic

Uganda Premier League | Fixtures | Kick-off: 3:00pm

• NEC vs SC Villa 
• Kitara vs Gaddafi
• BUL vs Busoga United
• Vipers vs Mbarara City
• URA vs Bright Stars
• Wakiso Giants vs UPDF 

SC Villa will be on the road to visit NEC in the Uganda Premier League at MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo on Saturday.

The 16-time record league champions will need a victory against NEC to ensure that they are declared the 2023/24 winners.

Dusan Stojanovic’s charges find themselves in the same place just like last year where they failed the test after falling to URA in a painful 1-0 loss.

Ahead of the highly anticipated match, Jeans Braddy Wokorach called upon the fans to help ignite players as they fight for glory.

“We very well know the importance of today’s game,” the custodian was quoted by the club’s website.

“We are aware of the opponents’ abilities but the game today will be about us. We have to win by all ways,” he added.

“The fans have been an integral part of this journey and I call upon them to turn up in high numbers.”

Elsewhere, BUL will be taking on Busoga in a Jinja Derby at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru. A loss for Busoga United could see them get relegated to the FUFA Big League.

The defending Champions Vipers SC will be locking horns with Mbarara City at St Mary’s Stadium while Kitara will host Gaddafi at Masindi Municipal Stadium.

Uganda Premier League | Result

• Gaddafi 3-2 Express

Gaddafi secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Express in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Gaddafi Arena on Wednesday evening.

Frank Mulimi and David Bagoole (brace) scored for Gaddafi as they registered a sweet victory while Marvin Oshaba netted twice for Express as they fell fighting.

Mulimi gave the hosts an early lead in the second minute after converting from the 12-yard mark.

Quick-footed forward Oshaba scored twice as Express went into the break ahead with a slim 2-1 lead.

Bagoole restored parity for the hosts in the 78th minute before he scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game.

The victory takes Gaddafi to the 14th position on the log with 25 points while Express lie 10th with 32 points.

For now, the relegation battle just got more interesting since three teams (Busoga United, Gaddafi and UPDF) have a chance to remain in the top tier or stick in the red zone.

The last match of the 2023/24 campaign will not only have the teams at the top on pressure but also those on the bottom of the log.

Kitara suffered yet another setback in the title chase after losing 1-0 to Bright Stars in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Kavumba Recreation Ground on Tuesday.

Shafick Kakande scored the all-important lonely strike as Bright Stars once again spoilt the party for Kitara and their travelling fans.

Kitara came into the game lying third on the log but the loss sends them to the fifth position with one game left to conclude the ongoing campaign.

After the final whistle, Kitara head coach Brian Ssenyondo said even after the lost they are still within the season target of finishing in the top five.

“The good thing is, we still want to remain in our season target of finishing in the top five,” the gaffer stated.

“We did not play to our expectations and Bright Stars were the better side all throughout the game. We failed to handle the game and well I do not know why. We are going back to prepare for our final game,” he added.

On the other hand, Bright Stars gaffer Joseph Mutyaba was happy with how his charges played showing the much-needed character.

“We played very well and the players were up to the task. We knew Kitara would put pressure but we tried to stop them and it worked,” he said.

“In the final minutes of the game, we did not want to give them a chance since we knew they would hurt us and I am happy we won the game.”

Next on the menu, Kitara will face Gaddafi while Bright Stars will be away to URA on the final day of the campaign.

SC Villa captain Kenneth Semakula scored the winning goal as Jogoo secured a 2-1 victory against URA in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

The league record champions SC Villa need a win against NEC on the last day of the season to be declared champions of the 2023-24 campaign.

Semakula has asked everyone attached to the club to turn up on the final day as they throw everything on the line to fight for maximum points on the day.

“I call upon the players and fans to turn up in our last match of the season as we fight for glory” he noted.

“We shall go to that game with a different game plan. Since it’s the last game of the season, we believe to offer the best to see that we lift the league trophy,” he added.

URA got the lead through Bruno Bunyaga in the 80th minute before Umar Lutalo levelled matters two minutes later.

Semakula scored a stunner in the 87th minute to turn Wankulukuku into a party scene and the Jogoo celebrated the sweet victory.

The skipper dedicated the victory to the teammates and the fans noting it was a collective effort to achieve the bragging rights on the day.

“I thank the technical team and my fellow players for the victory against URA. We had a game plan but also knew how much we needed the game. It’s one game to go for us to achieve our dream.”

SC Villa will face NEC at MTN Omondi Stadium on Saturday, May 18.

Uganda Premier League | Results 

• KCCA 4-0 Wakiso Giants

KCCA registered a well-deserved 4-0 victory against Wakiso Giants in the Uganda Premier League encounter at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo on Tuesday.

Muhammad Shaban, Filbert Obenchan, Haruna Lukwago and Joao Gabriel were on target as the Kasasiro Boys staged an emphatic victory in their last home game this season.

Shaban nearly gave the hosts a lead but his effort was cleared off the line.

Shaban finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute after guiding home Ashraf Mugume’s delivery in the box.

Six minutes later, Obenchan doubled the hosts’ lead with a powerful header from close range as Wakiso Giants’ backline looked stranded.

Lukwago netted the third on the day after guiding a thrilling effort at the near post into the net.

In the second stanza, Wakiso Giants tried to improve but were not lethal enough to convert their chances.

Gabriel put the icing on the cake with yet another beautiful finish after being set by Lukwago from the right wing.

The victory takes KCCA to the fifth position with 48 points while Wakiso Giants lie 12th on the log with 32 points.

Uganda Premier League | Result

• SC Villa 2-1 URA

SC Villa secured a 2-1 victory against URA in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Tuesday evening.

Kenneth Semakula and Umar Lutalo scored for SC Villa as the league record champions bounced from a goal to clinch victory.

Bruno Bunyaga scored URA’s lonely goal but it was not enough on the day.

Patrick Kakande made good runs on the left flank before dashing in but failed to get his efforts on target.

The hosts’ best chance fell to Ronald Ssekiganda’s head but the effort off Gavin Kizito went wide of the frame.

Charles Lwanga remained with a goalkeeper to beat but instead ballooned the ball from close range.

It was goalless at the interval as the two sides sent the fight to the second stanza of the game.

Youngster Bunyaga gave the visitors a lead in the 80th minute with a powerful header from close range.

Two minutes later, Umar Lutalo restored parity with a powerful shot through a forest of bodies into the back of the net.

With two minutes left on the clock, Semakula’s effort from distance reclaimed Villa’s lead as Wankulukuku turned into a party mood.

The victory takes Villa on top of the log with 54 points while URA lies eighth with 39 points after 28 games.