Vipers win away from seventh title

StarTimes Uganda Premier League – Matchday 27

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – Results

SC Villa 2-2 KCCA

Vipers SC 6-0 Mbale Heroes 

NEC 1-1 BUL

Vipers SC thrashed relegated Mbale Heroes 6-0 on Tuesday to move within one win of clinching their seventh national league title this Saturday.

Milton Karisa grabbed a brace, while Yunus Ssentamu, Allan Okello, Mohammed Salem, and Kenneth Kimera each netted at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, lifting the Venoms to 65 points.

That puts them seven clear of NEC, who were held to a 1-1 draw by BUL at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, with just three matches remaining. Karim Ndugwa had put BUL ahead on 22 minutes before Cromwell Rwothomio leveled four minutes from time.

Should Vipers beat BUL on Saturday, they will be confirmed 2024/25 StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions for the seventh time, with two matches to spare. 

Even if NEC – now on 58 points and guaranteed to finish second – beat relegated Soltilo Bright Stars the same day, they won’t be able to catch Vipers in the remaining two matches.

Karisa capitalized on a Mbale Heroes back pass to open the scoring on 22 minutes, before Ssentamu doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark, finishing off Okello’s fine work.

Okello and Karisa then swapped roles, with Karisa turning provider for Okello to make it 3-0 three minutes before halftime.

Mbale Heroes put up some resistance after the break but caved again in the 71st minute, Karisa completing his brace with a clinical finish off Abubakar Walusimbi’s assist to make it 4-0.

Walusimbi added another assist a minute later, setting up Salem for Vipers’ fifth, before Kimera rounded off a resounding 6-0 victory that leaves the Venoms just one win from the title.

SC Villa, KCCA share spoils

Earlier at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, KCCA had to come from behind to rescue a point and pride in the 2-2 draw with city rivals SC Villa.  

Actually, it was the visitors, KCCA, that took the lead through brace hero Emmanuel Anyama after 22 minutes when he collected the ball from Ashraf Mugume before squeezing it past Braddy Wokorach. 

Villa equalised through striker Charles Lwanga when he connected home Reagan Mpande’s ball on 37 minutes. 

The hosts then won a penalty after Peter Magambo was penalised for a handball and Mpande dispatched it for a 2-1 Villa lead.

KCCA hit back on the stroke of half time, Anyama completing his brace with a brilliant header off a Joao Gabriel cross in the 53rd minute to ensure the sides drew their home and away fixtures this season. Matchday 28 kicks off on Saturday.