Champions KCCA ended the first round as leaders but will be wary of rivals SC Villa breathing down their neck.Vipers and URA will count themselves back n contention after important victories as the final match day of the first half of the season yielded 13 goals and just one goalless stalemate.
It all started on Friday with former champions edging Sam Ssimbwa’s Soana 1-0 at Kavumba in a fiercely contested tie.
Erisa Ssekisambu, returning from a two weeks lay off scored the winner with Hassan Wasswa bagging a rare assist from contestable free kick awarded by referee Mashood Ssali.
The victory put the Venoms on 24 points and lifted them over Soana to fourth on the log at the moment as the Kavumba side dropped to 5th with a point-less.
At Kakindu, Daniel Shabena scored in the 28th minute to give JMC Hippos their first win of the season as they defeated Express.
The bottom placed side should have enjoyed a bigger cushion had they not missed a penalty but they stay at the base with 7 points while are now 8th with 19 points.
On Saturday, action continued and at the Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo, Proline threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with The Saints.
Edirisa Torres Lubega gave the hosts a lead after 24 minutes and doubled his and Proline’s tally with another strike ten minutes later.
But seven minutes after the break, Godfrey Wakaza gave the Saints hope with a strike and added the other two minutes later to tie the game.
The hosts finished the game with a man less after Sakka Mpiima was sent off for unsporting behaviour.
At Lugazi, KCCA lost their third game of the campaign thanks to Peter Lwasa late goal that gave URA the victory.
The Kasasiro had midfielder Muzamiru Mutyaba back in the team but they could do little to break down an organised hosts’ backline manned by ex-KCCA defender Richard Kasagga.
Despite the loss, Mike Mutebi’s charges stay top with 32 points and the end the round as champions while maximum points for URA put them on 22 points in 6th position.
SC Villa were the biggest winners on the day as they moved within a point of KCCA with a 2-0 win over Kirinya Jinja SS at Nakivubo.
Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu scored from the spot after 20 minutes following a foul on Ivorian striker Boue Bi before Burundian import Fuadi Ndayisenga put the icing on the cake with a header four minutes to time to seal maximum points.
Elsewhere, Gadafi Gadinho scored in the 19th minute at Bugembe to give Onduparaka their second successive away maximum points with victory over Sadolin Paints.
The Caterpillars are now 3rd on the log with 25 points, seven adrift of leaders KCCA while The Painters are 10th with 17 points.
At Matugga, Police suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bright Stars with goals from Fred Ssegujja, William Kayondo (own goal) and Yubu Bogere sealing the victory for the side in the first half.
Fred Kajoba’s side end the first round in 7th on 20 points while the Cops are 13th with 14 points just one above the relegation zone.
At Wankulukuku, Bul earned an away point with a draw against hosts Lweza but stay in the red zone with 13 points while The Oranje are 9th with 18 points.
The league takes a two months break and returns in February as they give leeway for the Uganda Cranes preparations for AFCON finals due in Gabon.
Friday December 9, 2016 Results
Soana 0-1 Vipers
JMC Hippos 1-0 Express
Saturday December 10, 2016
SC Villa 2-0 Kirinya Jinja SS
URA 1-0 KCCA
Lweza 0-0 Bul
Bright Stars 3-0 Police
Sadolin Paints 0-1 Onduparaka
Proline 2-2 The Saints