UPL: Champions Vipers, KCCA eye home wins to end first round

Reigning champions Vipers SC and title contenders KCCA FC will both look to close the first round of the Uganda Premier League on a high when they host Buhimba United Saints and Entebbe UPPC respectively this Friday.

Already assured of finishing top at the halfway stage, Vipers enjoy the comfort of home as they welcome league newcomers Buhimba United Saints to St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

In a rare afternoon kickoff, the champions will take to the pitch at 4pm, firm favourites against a Buhimba side still finding its feet in topflight football.

The visitors have managed four wins this season but arrive in Kitende on the back of a home defeat to NEC.

 

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For the Venoms, victory would further underline their dominance, stretching their advantage to three points with a valuable game in hand over the chasing pack.

Fresh from a commanding 4-1 dismantling of Police FC, in-form players Karim Watambala and Usama Arafat are again expected to spearhead the charge.

Later under the Lugogo lights, KCCA FC face a stern test against Abdallah Mubiru’s Entebbe UPPC at the MTN Omondi Stadium.

UPDF FC host BUL FC at Military Barracks Ground

The Kasasiro Boys come into the contest buoyed by a morale-boosting win over UPDF that snapped a two-game winless run, but they will be wary of a highly motivated Entebbe side breathing down their necks.

KCCA sit on 30 points, just three ahead of UPPC, and defeat would see the two sides swap places on the table based on head-to-head.

The visitors also have extra motivation, with several former KCCA players including Mustafa Mujjuzi, Steven Munguchi, Julius Poloto and Isa Mubiru keen to make a statement against their old employers.

Elsewhere on Friday, struggling UPDF FC host BUL FC at the Military Barracks Ground in Bombo, with survival fears beginning to loom large for the army side.

Saturday will have packed slate of fixtures across the country

UPDF have lost three matches on the bounce and sit on 11 points, hovering just above the relegation zone on head-to-head with Mbarara City. Anything less than maximum points could deepen their troubles.

BUL, meanwhile, are eager to maintain their gradual climb up the standings after a minor setback away at Lugazi in their previous outing.

The action continues into Saturday with a packed slate of fixtures across the country as the first round edges closer to its conclusion.

Friday January 30, 2026

UPDF vs BUL – Military Barracks Ground, Bombo – 4pm
Vipers vs Buhimba United Saints – St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende – 4pm
KCCA vs Entebbe UPPC – MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo – 8pm

Saturday January 31, 2026

Calvary vs Kitara – Midigo P/S Ground, Yumbe – 4pm
Maroons vs Mbarara City – Prisons Ground, Luzira – 4pm
NEC vs Express – MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo – 4pm
URA vs Police – Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo – 4pm
SC Villa vs Lugazi – FUFA Stadium, Kadiba – 8pm