Kitende, Uganda: Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC handed KCCA FC their first defeat of the season with a 1–0 win at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, on Friday, November 7, 2025, thanks to a first-half strike from Allan Okello.
The victory, inspired by a well-organized and disciplined display, ended KCCA’s five-game unbeaten run and reaffirmed Vipers’ title credentials in the 2025/26 StarTimes UPL season.
In a tense first half dominated by the hosts, skipper Allan Okello, back in the starting XI, capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Charles Lukwago to slot home the winning goal in the 32nd minute.
The chance came after Yunus Sentamu drove down the left wing and whipped in a low cross that Lukwago spilled under minimal pressure, leaving Okello to calmly tap in from close range — a decisive moment that separated the two sides.
“It feels good to score again at Kitende and help the team win. We played as a unit and showed what Vipers football is about,” Okello said after the match.
How it Happened
Vipers started the match aggressively, dictating play through their central trio of Enock Ssebagala, Marvin Joseph Youngman, and Karim Watambala, who outmuscled KCCA’s midfield and maintained possession with purpose.
Coach Charles Livingstone Mbabazi made two tactical changes from the team that beat Entebbe — restoring Okello and Yunus Sibira to the starting lineup in place of Milton Karisa and Gusto Mulongo.
Their high pressing game restricted KCCA’s attacking rhythm, leaving the visitors struggling to create chances. The Venoms nearly took the lead earlier when Ssebagala fired wide from six yards in the 10th minute after a clever pass from Arafat Usama, who tormented his former teammates down the right wing.
After the interval, KCCA improved their tempo with the introduction of Ashiraf Mugume for Umar Lutalo, injecting more creativity into midfield. However, their attacking duo of Etienne Katenga and Charles Lwanga were effectively silenced by Vipers’ solid defensive pairing of Livingstone Mulondo and Richard Basangwa.
Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza had little to do in the second half as the Venoms held firm to preserve their narrow advantage, frustrating KCCA’s late surge.
KCCA’s co-coach Jackson Magera admitted his side paid for defensive complacency: “We controlled moments of the game but gave away a soft goal. In big matches like this, small mistakes make the difference,” he said.
The result leaves KCCA FC still top of the table with 11 points after six matches, while Vipers SC climb to 10th position on six points, with two wins from two games after recovering from a sluggish start to the season.
Following the international break, KCCA will host URA FC at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, while Vipers return home to face Maroons FC in what promises to be another high-tempo clash at Kitende.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
