Uganda Premier League: Express end slump, Vipers go top

Matchday 13 of the 2025/26 StarTimes Uganda Premier League served up a full menu of goals, twists and talking points across the country.

John Asiimwe added another for Express.#StarTimesUPL | #EXPBUH pic.twitter.com/1pdb9by9FU

— FUFA Tv (@fufatv1) January 24, 2026

At Nakivubo, Express FC finally halted their three-match winless run with a deserved 3–1 victory over Buhimba Saints United.

Mikidad Ssenyonga opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Edson Agondeze replied almost immediately for the visitors. John Asiimwe restored Express’ lead in the 25th minute from Ssenyonga’s cross, and Henry Wamala wrapped it up late on. Richard Basangwa was named Man of the Match as the Red Eagles climbed to 10th on 15 points, with Buhimba 11th on 13.

In the night’s headline act at Hamz Stadium, Vipers SC swept aside URA FC 3–0 to return to the top of the table.

Full-Time! URA FC 0-3 Vipers SC

📊 https://t.co/Nn18OISqHN#URAVIP | #StarTimesUPL pic.twitter.com/Mkhkcm9kZy

— StarTimes Uganda Premier League (@UPL) January 24, 2026

Karim Watambala struck inside the first minute and added a second in the final minutes of the match, with substitute Gusto Mulongo also getting on the scoresheet.

The win sends Vipers to 30 points, while URA remain 12th on 11.

Earlier at Lugogo, fans were treated to a thriller as NEC FC and Kitara FC shared a 3–3 draw. NEC twice led and even went ahead late on, but Kitara kept fighting back to earn a point. Kitara stay sixth on 23 points, NEC eighth on 16.

In Kamwenge, it was far less entertaining as Mbarara City and Lugazi FC played out a 0–0 draw, a result that keeps both sides stuck on 11 points and deep in relegation trouble.

There was action on Friday as well with BUL FC beating SC Villa 2–1 in Njeru, continuing their good run under Alex Isabirye. The victory lifted BUL to eighth on 16 points, while Villa remain fourth on 26.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League Matchday 13 roundup

All in all, it was a weekend where Express rediscovered winning ways, Vipers underlined their Uganda Premier League title credentials, and the relegation and top-four battles both tightened further.

The results from Matchday 13 further underline how competitive the StarTimes Uganda Premier League 2025/26 season has become, with momentum shifting rapidly from week to week. While traditional giants like Vipers SC continue to assert their dominance at the summit, the chasing pack remains tightly bunched, ensuring that both the title race and the fight for continental qualification remain wide open. For teams like Express FC, rediscovering winning form could be a turning point, especially as confidence and squad stability begin to return after a difficult run.

At the opposite end of the table, the pressure is intensifying in the relegation battle, with clubs such as Mbarara City, Lugazi FC and URA FC needing quick responses to avoid being dragged deeper into trouble. With several fixtures still to come and head-to-head clashes looming, every point is becoming increasingly valuable. As the league approaches its midway stage, Matchday 13 may prove to be a defining round—setting the tone for the title contenders, reshaping mid-table ambitions, and raising the stakes in the survival fight across the Uganda Premier League.