Bul delay Vipers' seventh title

Vipers will have to wait a little longer to toast to their seventh StarTimes Uganda Premier League title after a dramatic 1-0 defeat to BUL on a Saturday packed with goals across the competition. 22 were scored on the day.

Reagan Kalyowa was the hero for Bul, striking the winner in the third minute of added time at the Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru, condemning the Venoms to just their third defeat of the season.

Vipers had needed only a victory to clinch the title with two matches to spare, following their emphatic 6-0 win over Mbale Heroes earlier in the week, which coincided with chasers Nec dropping points.

However, Bul’s 14th win of the campaign, which moved them to 53 points and third place, and Nec’s ruthless 5-1 bounce-back victory over relegated Soltilo Bright Stars ensured Vipers’ champagne remained on ice. The leaders now turn to Wednesday’s trip to Kitara in hopes of sealing the title.

At Kavumba, Emmanuel Ajo starred with a brace, joined by Cromwell Rwothomio’s penalty and goals from Emmanuel Kulanga and James Jarieko, as Nec brushed aside Bright Stars, who grabbed a consolation through Shafik Kakande.

Rwothomio opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty before Ajo made it 2-0 on 32 minutes to hand NEC a comfortable halftime lead.

Ajo bagged his second early in the second half, and although Kakande pulled one back on 73 minutes, Kulanga and Jarieko completed the rout to secure Nec’s 18th win of the campaign. NEC remain second on 61 points, four behind Vipers, with two games to play.

It wasn’t just Nec enjoying the goal rush. KCCA and URA each hit five without reply, dispatching Wakiso Giants and Express respectively, while UPDF thumped Mbale Heroes 3-0.

At Lugogo, Ashiraf Mugume’s 20th-minute penalty opened the scoring for KCCA, but Wakiso held on until halftime.

After the break, the floodgates opened, with Joao Gabriel Esteves Cardoso, Umaru Lutalo, Bright Anukani, and Gatbel Yian all netting before the 80th minute.

KCCA’s 12th win of the season lifted them to fifth on 44 points, while Wakiso Giants were relegated and are stranded on 20 points with two games left.

At Nakivubo, Ivan Ahimbisibwe bagged a hat-trick as URA overwhelmed Express 5-0. The striker opened the scoring on 31 minutes and added his second eight minutes into the second half. Norman Namanya and Faizo Matovu also got in on the act before Ahimbisibwe completed his treble two minutes from time.

URA’s 15th win saw them climb to fourth on 49 points, while Express, with their 11th defeat of the season, remain ninth on 39 points.

In Mbale, Sam Ssekamate was UPDF’s hero, netting all three goals in a 3-0 win over already-relegated Mbale Heroes. The victory moved the soldiers to 39 points in 10th place. Mbale Heroes, anchored at the bottom, remain on just 10 points.

Elsewhere, Titus Ssematimba’s strike earned Kitara a 1-0 win over Maroons in Hoima, while Paul Busolo’s goal sealed Mbarara City’s 1-0 victory against Lugazi at Kakyeka Ground.

Kitara’s 11th win of the season moved them to sixth on 41 points, one ahead of Maroons. Mbarara, now safe, sit 12th on 29 points, two behind 11th-placed Lugazi. Matchday 28 wraps up on Sunday when Police host SC Villa.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Results

Bul 1-0 Vipers SC 

KCCA 5-0 Wakiso Giants 

Soltilo Bright Stars 1-5 Nec 

Kitara 1-0 Maroons 

Mbarara City 1-0 Lugazi 

URA 5-0 Express 

Mbale Heroes 0-3 UPDF