KCCA FC seek to reclaim lost glory in Uganda Cup final showdown with Vipers SC

Photo by FUFA Media.

Under the newly installed floodlights of Kadiba Stadium this Saturday, history and rivalry will converge as Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC face reigning Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC in a much-anticipated Uganda Cup final.

For KCCA FC one of Uganda’s most storied clubs, this final is more than a trophy hunt. It’s a return to identity, a moment laced with redemption and a chance to end a six-year wait for silverware. Their last taste of glory came in 2019 when they lifted the CECAFA Cup, a distant memory for fans who once celebrated an era of domestic dominance.

“It has taken long without getting silverware,” admitted KCCA head coach Jackson Magera during the pre-match press conference at FUFA House in Mengo. “We are going there to put on a great performance. We think this is the moment.” KCCA’s road to the final has been far from smooth. They edged through tough fixtures against Rwenzori Lions and Kataka in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages.

Against Kataka, the Kasasiro Boys barely found rhythm at home before eking out a late win. The return leg in Mbale saw Kataka push KCCA to a 1-1 draw, exploiting defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued Magera’s side throughout the campaign. Yet those scars may fuel their fire.

With key players returning from injury and three crucial days left to finalize squad selection, Coach Nelly cuts the figure of a man quietly determined to seize this long-awaited opportunity. “We have prepared well, we know the magnitude of our opponent,” Magera noted, his tone revealing both respect and readiness.

That opponent, Vipers SC, poses a formidable challenge. The champions from Kitende have already faced KCCA twice this season drawing 1-1 at home and convincingly beating them 2-0 at Lugogo. The latter performance showcased Vipers’ tactical acumen, particularly with Derrick Ndahiro’s shift into midfield, a move that disrupted KCCA’s early-season fluency. But finals often write different stories.

And KCCA have history on their side. The last time they met Vipers in an Uganda Cup final was in 2018 and it ended 1-0 in their favor. The goal scorer that day, Julius Poloto, now captains the side. His leadership, infused with the memory of that triumph, will be pivotal in inspiring a repeat performance.

There’s also an emotional undercurrent. Lining up against KCCA this time will be Allan Okello once a teenage prodigy nurtured by the KCCA academy. Now donning Vipers’ colors, his presence adds a personal twist to this already charged encounter. This final, then, is a tapestry of rivalry, reunions, and rebirth.

KCCA, joint-record holders of the Uganda Cup alongside Express FC with ten titles, could become the outright leaders with a win on Saturday. For Magera whose quiet rebuild has battled inconsistency and injury setbacks all season, this match is a defining moment. Can his side rise above past struggles and outwit a Vipers team that has mastered the art of winning even when not at their best?

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