Vipers, NEC march on

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Friday results

Vipers 1-0 Wakiso Giants

Soltilo Bright Stars 1-3 SC Villa

Maroons 1-3 NEC

Kitara 1-1 Mbarara City

BUL 2-1 URA

StarTimes Uganda Premier League leaders Vipers SC and closest chasers NEC secured crucial victories on Friday, while SC Villa also returned to winning ways.

Vipers’ venom

Substitute Kenneth Kimera was the match-winner for Vipers, netting in the 55th minute to seal a narrow 1-0 victory over Wakiso Giants under the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende floodlights.

Kimera, who replaced Marvin Youngman at halftime, latched onto a long, searching ball from inside his half before lofting it over the onrushing Wakiso goalkeeper, James Alitho. The win was Vipers’ 15th of the season – the most by any of the 16 league teams.

Vipers have now won their last three matches by a 1-0 scoreline and extended their winning streak to eight games. Their last dropped points came in a 1-1 draw with BUL on December 14, 2024.

The Venoms sit atop the table with 49 points, five ahead of NEC, who dispatched Maroons 3-1 in Luzira.

For Wakiso Giants, the defeat – their eighth in 20 games – further complicated their relegation battle. They remain in the red zone with 14 points, just two ahead of Soltilo Bright Stars and four clear of bottom-placed Mbale Heroes.

NEC keep up the pressure

In Luzira, NEC continued their impressive campaign with a 3-1 win over Maroons. Enock Ssebagala, Paul Mucureezi, and Emmanuel Ajo were on target for the visitors, while Rogers Kiwanuka scored Maroons’ consolation goal.

Ssebagala opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and NEC doubled their lead nine minutes later when Mucureezi converted from the spot after Gideon Odongo was fouled in the box.

Maroons pulled one back through Kiwanuka’s penalty, but NEC restored their two-goal cushion through Ajo before halftime.

With 44 points from 20 matches, NEC have now won 13 games and remain within touching distance of Vipers. They are nine points ahead of third-placed BUL, while Maroons sit eighth with 27 points.

BUL extend winning run

BUL secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over URA, with Martin Aprem and Lawrence Tezikya scoring in either half to earn their ninth win of the season. This was BUL’s sixth consecutive victory.

Laban Tibita scored URA’s consolation goal, but the Tax Collectors remained fifth with 30 points.

Villa bounce back

At Kavumba, SC Villa recovered from their Matchday 19 defeat to Maroons by seeing off Soltilo Bright Stars 3-1.

Aslam Ssemakula, Charles Lwanga, and Patrick Jonah Kakande were on target for Villa, while Nelson Senkatuka grabbed Bright Stars’ only goal.

The outgoing champions secured just their seventh win of the season, moving up to ninth place with 27 points. Bright Stars, meanwhile, remain second from bottom with 12 points.

Ssemakula put Villa ahead after nine minutes, connecting home from a corner. Lwanga doubled the lead midway through the first half before Ssenkatuka pulled one back for Bright Stars on 40 minutes. However, Kakande sealed Villa’s win just after the hour mark.

Kitara, Mbarara share spoils

Elsewhere, Kitara and Mbarara City settled for a 1-1 draw in Hoima City.

Patrick Kaddu put Kitara ahead from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half, but Henry Kitegenyi equalized – also from the spot – 12 minutes from time.

Kitara remain sixth with 29 points after their fifth draw of the campaign, while Mbarara City sit just above the relegation zone with 22 points.