Overview:

Vipers, who dispatched NEC 3-1 to open up a sizeable lead on Matchday 24, had further stretched the gap to eight points with a narrow but crucial victory 1-0 over Maroons the previous day. But NEC narrowed that deficit to five points with the win over Mbale Heroes.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League 

Matchday 25

Friday, April 25, 2025 Results

Lugazi 3-1 Soltilo Bright Stars

Police 2-0 URA

NEC 2-0 Mbale Heroes

NEC returned to winning ways, beating relegation-bound Mbale Heroes 2-0 at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo on Friday to keep leaders Vipers SC in sight.

Vipers, who dispatched NEC 3-1 to open up a sizeable lead on Matchday 24, had further stretched the gap to eight points with a narrow but crucial victory 1-0 over Maroons the previous day.

But goals from James Jarieko and Cromwell Rwothomio in either half on Friday ensured coach Hussein Mbalangu’s NEC cut back that lead to five points at 54, with five matches to end the season.

The two will be eager not to drop any more points as the StarTimes Uganda Premier League enters the business end.

NEC took the lead on 32 minutes when Ismail Kawawulo teed-up Jarieko to do the rest before Rwothomio made the most of Man of the Match Allan Mugalu’s pass to seal NEC’s 16th victory of the season four minutes into the second half. 

Mbale remain rooted at the bottom of the 16-team table on just 10 points and one defeat away from relegation. Actually, if Mbarara City beat KCCA on Saturday, Heroes will be relegated.

In Lugazi, the hosts dispatched struggling Soltilo Bright Stars, thrashing them 3-1 to edge closer to safety.

Alvin Birunji struck a double, the goals coming in the 72nd and 79th minutes – with Moses Buga also getting onto the scoreboard in between
as Lugazi moved to 31 points in 11th place, three above relegation with five matches to go.

Noordin Bunjo had given Bright Stars hope with the opener in the eighth minute but all that was quashed in the last 18 minutes of the game, keeping the visitors second from bottom on 16 points.

In the day’s other game, Police beat URA 2-0 to boost their survival chances. 

Brace hero Umaru Kasumba won it for Police, scoring in the 70th and 73th minutes to move to 30 points in 12th place and two above relegation. URA are fourth on 42 points. 

Matchday 25 wraps up on Saturday, with KCCA welcoming Mbarara to Lugogo, outgoing champions SC Villa hosting Kitara and BUL travelling to Wakiso Giants.