Overview:

Kitara climbed to second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League standings after being awarded points from the earlier abandoned fixture against Vipers, as Matchday 16 produced three results on Thursday.

Matchday 16 results

Maroons 0–1 Kitara

Mbarara 1–0 Calvary

Police 2–1 Lugazi

The FUFA Disciplinary Panel on Thursday announced its decision regarding the aborted fixture between Kitara and Vipers, hours before the start of the second round of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.

The panel found Vipers guilty of failing to honour the Matchday One fixture, citing a breach of Article 16 of the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Code.

As a result, Vipers were declared to have lost the match by forfeiture.

However, the panel did not impose additional sanctions that would have included the deduction of three points and three goals from those already accumulated or to be accumulated.

Section IV, Match Event Organisation, Rule 23 of the 2025/26 FUFA Competition Rules states that a team “loses the match by forfeiture and shall be docked three (3) points and three (3) goals from those already accumulated in event that the defaulting club is the away club.”

Vipers’ next course of action remains unclear. Their earlier failure to honour the opening fixture followed their decision not to participate under a new league format introduced by FUFA at the start of the season.

FUFA subsequently reverted to the previous format after consultations with stakeholders. Vipers joined the competition on Matchday Five, registering a 1–0 away victory over UPPC.

In a separate matter, the FUFA Disciplinary Panel dismissed KCCA’s petition alleging that Kitara fielded an ineligible player, Patrick Kaddu, in their opening match in Butema, Hoima.

KCCA argued that Kaddu was not licensed at the time and did not appear on the official teamsheet.

The panel stated that it would be “unjust to impose disciplinary sanction on a club for a technical error that was beyond its control.”

The rulings coincided with Matchday 16 action, which featured three fixtures.

Following the award of three points, Kitara moved into second place on 35 points, one behind Vipers. They also secured a 1–0 victory over Maroons, with Johnson Byaruhanga scoring the decisive goal.

Police defeated Lugazi 2–1 through goals from Charles Bbaale, who also assisted Congolese striker Bedia Ikamba for his seventh goal of the season.

Ikamba was later sent off, before Abdul Kalanzi converted a late penalty for Lugazi.

Elsewhere, Clinton Kamugisha scored the only goal as Mbarara edged bottom side Calvary 1–0.