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 | 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.

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 | 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.

• Uganda Premier League | Result
• KCCA 2-0 SC Villa

KCCA secured a 2-0 victory against SC Villa in the Uganda Premier League encounter played at Namboole on Wednesday, March 1, 2024.

Usama Arafat’s brace helped the Kasasiro Boys earn maximum points on the emotional return to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The sweet victory equally meant that KCCA had sealed a rare double beating SC Villa home and away.

The well-attended match saw both sides have a fair share of possession however the better chances of the game were created by the hosts.

Amidst having two clear chances on the goal Usama and Emmanuel Loki failed to guide the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Charles Lwanga put to waste SC Villa’s best chance as he failed to guide the ball past Anthony Emojong from close range.

Usama broke the deadlock after easily nodding home Herbert Achai’s cross in the 81st minute and the fans erupted into applause and cheers.

Eight minutes later, Usama sealed a personal brace after completing a team attack as SC Villa’s backline was left frustrated and helpless.

KCCA is now sixth on the log with 42 points while SC Villa lies fourth on the log with 45 points in 25 games.

• Uganda Premier League | Half Time
• KCCA 0-0 SC Villa

After 45 minutes of thrilling football, KCCA and SC Villa have fired blanks in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Namboole on Wednesday.

The two sides have staged an entertaining as none of the teams is allowed to respect others.

With a fair share of possession, the hosts have so far looked an inch better than SC Villa with Usama Arafat pulling the strings.

SC Villa goalkeeper Braddy Wokorach has been called to action twice thwarting away Usama’s powerful efforts.

On the other hand, Charles Lwanga put to waste SC Villa’s best chance as he failed to guide the ball past Anthony Emojong from close range.

With an electrifying ambiance at Namboole, you can only expect a better show in the second stanza.

Uganda Premier League | Results

• Gaddafi 1-0 SC Villa
• Bright Stars 2-2 KCCA

Patrick Jonah Kakande guided SC Villa in the 1-0 victory against Gaddafi in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Gaddafi Arena on Thursday.

Kakande’s late finish not only gave Villa maximum points but also dragged them back in the title talk as they sit fourth on the log.

Umar Lutalo nearly gave the visitors the lead but Gaddafi’s custodian Andrew Ssekandi thwarted the attempt away.

Hakim Kiwanuka was tripped in the area and the centre referee pointed straight to the spot though Lutalo could not guide the ball past the goalkeeper.

From that point onwards none of the teams found the back of the net as the scoresheet read 0-0 going into the break.

In the second half, the hosts grew in confidence throwing bodies upfront.

Midway through the second period, Gaddafi came so close to taking the lead as Lawrence Kambugu’s effort bounced off the frame.

In the 76th minute, Kakande showed his brilliance as he beat two markers before firing the ball into the corner of the net.

The victory sends Villa fourth on the log with 45 points, two behind log leaders Kitara.

After the loss, Gaddafi lies 13th on the log with 19 points, one above the red zone.

Next on the menu, SC Villa will play KCCA on Wednesday, May 1 while Gaddafi will visit Wakiso Giants the following day.

Patrick Jonah Kakande expressed his disappointment after failing to convert a glorious chance that fell to him in the final minutes of the goalless stalemate between SC Villa and Vipers.

In the 78th minute, Abasi Kyeyune went through a forest of bodies on the right flank before setting up Kakande who instead skied the ball above the frame with the goal at his mercy.

In the post-match conference, Kakande revealed that he would go back and think about the moment and find out how best he could have handled the situation.

“My decision was so poor but I will go back and think about the moment so that I see how best to handle myself in such a situation,” he started.

“We shall keep our heads high. We are still in the race, we shall keep fighting till the last day. We shall keep correcting our mistakes as we also better on the positives to win our next games,” he added.

Villa lie fourth on the log with 41 points after playing 22 games in the ongoing campaign.

They will return to action on Sunday, April 21 as they take on Bright Stars at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

• Uganda Premier League | Fixture
• SC Villa vs Vipers – 4 PM

SC Villa and Vipers SC will lock horns in a Uganda Premier League encounter that is set to take place at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Tuesday.

Amidst a switch in managers, Vipers seek to keep their winning streak to keep pressure on the log leaders.

In the pre-match conference, Vipers interim head coach Richard Wasswa revealed that they expect a tough challenge but are equally ready to fight for points.

“We expect a tough challenge but hope the hard work that we shall put on the pitch will give us an edge,” he stated.

“We have prepared well and all the players are in a good healthy state. We hope for the best going to Wankulukuku because we are going to fight for the points since it will be a tough game,” he added.

“Since we are nearing the end of the campaign. There is no hard game because each point matters. We have tried to rectify our mistakes and I hope the boys will give their best so that we can gather maximum points.”

Vipers’ fanbase will hope that the sacking of Livingstone Mbabazi hardly affects the team’s preparation ahead of the big game.

Villa will miss the services of youngsters Hakim Mutebi, Simon Mukisa, and Junior Niwamanya but they will be boosted by the return of Hamis Diego Semugera and Gavin Kizito.

Vipers lie third on the log with 41 points while Villa are fourth with a point less.