Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Villa, Kitara highlight a year of highs, lows for domestic football

SC Villa lifted the league title after 20 years. PHOTOS/JOHN BATANUDDE 

What you need to know:

Caf first granted Fufa approval for a 'Test Match' at the stadium which had been out of commission since 2020 due to substandard conditions and underwent revitalization by the UPDF Engineering Brigade with a Sh97bn funding from government.

When it rains, it pours – and for SC Villa and Kitara, 2023-2024 has been a whirlwind of triumphs and tribulations. 

SC Villa sent shockwaves through the football fraternity with a last-gasp victory to end their 20-year league title drought, while Kitara defied the odds to clinch their maiden Stanbic Uganda Cup.

Yet, when it mattered most on the continental stage, their luck ran dry. Villa fell to Ethiopia’s CBE, and Kitara bowed out to Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi in the Caf preliminary rounds.

That heartbreak seemed to spill over into an unconvincing league start, leaving both sides scrambling to restore their battered pride in a season of mixed fortunes.

Managerial gambles

So damning was Kitara’s plight after their Uganda Cup triumph and subsequent continental disappointment that club boss Deo Kasozi wasted no time wielding the axe. 

Out went the less tactical Brian Ssenyondo, whose poor start to the season left the Royals in disarray, and in came the seasoned Wasswa Bbosa. 

Bbosa responded swiftly, dragging Kitara from the relegation zone to a respectable ninth place.

On the flip side, SC Villa boss Umar Mandela continues to pay a heavy price for his hasty decision to sack triumphant coach Dusan Stojanovic, replacing him with the unpredictable Morley Byekwaso. 

Byekwaso’s inconsistent tenure has left the defending champions languishing in eighth place, playing second fiddle in their title defence and struggling to regain their footing.

Namboole relief

Ugandan football received a major boost when Namboole Stadium finally reopened its doors after five years of extensive renovations.

Caf first granted Fufa approval for a 'Test Match' at the stadium which had been out of commission since 2020 due to substandard conditions and underwent revitalization by the UPDF Engineering Brigade with a Sh97bn funding from government.

Two title determinants fixtures as part of the trial process on May 1, saw KCCA triumph over SC Villa while Bul defeated Vipers offered a glimpse of the new-look stadium.

The closure of Namboole had severely impacted the Uganda Cranes, forcing them to relocate to St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende and even seek venues abroad due to Caf's stringent requirements.

The long-awaited return to Namboole for the World Cup qualifiers in June saw a surge of fan support, as the Cranes faced Algeria and Botswana, securing a narrow loss to the North Africans and a much-needed victory over Botswana.

Rabona madness

Speedy forward Denis Omedi etched his name into local football folklore with an audacious rabona goal that captured both national and global attention.

 The Uganda Cranes and Kitara forward's stunning strike against KCCA in the Fufa Super 8 finished sixth in Africa and third in the world for the coveted FIFA Puskás Award. 

Despite a valiant effort by Ugandan fans, only 13,766 votes were cast for Omedi, compared to Angola’s Cristovao Mabululu, who secured 121,192 votes to win Caf Goal of the Year.

Omedi's goal finished third in the global rankings for the Fifa Puskás Award, behind winner Alejandro Garnacho and runner-up Yassine Benzia.

In August unde the Lugogo floodlights, Omedi, now reportedly on a club hunting mission, controlled a high ball under pressure, spun swiftly, and executed the sublime rabona. 

The ball flew past bewildered  KCCA custodian Anthony Emojong, sealing a 3-3 draw on the day and a 4-3 aggregate victory for Kitara. 

Omedi’s historic nomination for both the CAF and FIFA awards is the first for a Ugandan player, marking a milestone in the nation's football history.

Kakande reign

Silky yet diminutive Patrick Kakande was the star of SC Villa’s 2023/24 Uganda Premier League campaign, clinching the MVP award at the season's gala for his standout performances that guided the Jogoos to their first league title in 20 years.

 The deft winger shone across 26 matches, scoring nine goals, assisting four times, and earning five man-of-the-match honors. 

His efforts outshone those of teammate Ronald Ssekiganda, KCCA’s Muhammad Shaban, Kitara’s Omedi, and Bul’s Ronald Otti. 

Kakande's remarkable season saw him bagging four awards, including Player’s Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season, and a place in the Best XI.

However, the weight of expectation has been a double-edged sword for Kakande. While he continues to display flashes of brilliance, his performances have been marked by inconsistency, as the pressure of living up to his stellar season pushes him to deliver more, often with mixed results.

Okello reborn

Allan Okello, now in his mid-twenties, has rediscovered his spark since his move to Vipers, marking a year at the club after switching from KCCA . 

Once hailed as the golden boy of Ugandan football, Okello’s early promise had fans dreaming of a footballing icon. His debut in 2017 at just 17, coupled with comparisons to KCCA legends like Jackson Mayanja, made him a household name. 

But after stints at AC Paradou (Algeria) and a difficult return to KCCA, expectations weighed heavy, and his first season at Vipers was underwhelming, with just four assists and two goals in 21 league games.

Now, as Vipers gear up for a title push under John 'Ayala' Luyinda, Okello finds himself under the spotlight.

His impressive pre-season form, including a key assist in Uganda’s 2-0 win over Congo in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, has reignited hopes of the dynamic playmaker he once was. 

The coming new year is his chance to step up and show that he is indeed the golden boy of Ugandan football, ready to take charge when it matters most.

Kitara forwards Jude Semugabi (L) and Denis Omedi. 

Kabugo death 

The sudden passing of assistant referee Peter Kabugo, who tragically collapsed during SC Villa’s commanding win over UPDF at Wankulukuku, left a dark cloud over Ugandan football, casting a stark light on the state of health among football’s unsung heroes.

Kabugo’s death has left Fufa grappling with uncomfortable questions about the well-being of officials who dedicate themselves to the game, raising alarm bells about the overall health standards within Ugandan football.

Meanwhile, doubts continue to linger over the future of refereeing in the country, as Fifa-certified referees Mashood Ssali and Ali Sabila are both set to retire at the end of this year. 

With their departures, the spotlight falls on Shamirah Nabadda, fresh from her Olympic and Wafcon duties, and William Oloya, who are now expected to rise to the challenge and step into the void left by their predecessors. 

Match Fixing 

Ugandan football continues to tread a tightrope after the globally publicized match-fixing scandal that left more questions than answers. 

In June, Fufa banned 13 individuals, including 10 referees, following the exposure of a South African-based syndicate with Fifa's assistance. 

The ring targeted seven matches across the second divisions of both men's and women's football between October and December of the previous year. 

Despite Fufa’s efforts, including an anti-match-fixing campaign launched in March 2023, the revelation of this “criminal syndicate,” involving corruption, money laundering, and organized crime, has shaken the foundation of the sport.

The bans, including provisional 90-day suspensions for a player and two administrators, have cast a long shadow over Uganda’s football integrity. 

Adding to the controversy, Fifa imposed five-year bans on five players and 10-year suspensions on two Ugandan referees, further deepening the crisis. 

With match-fixing now a criminal offense in Uganda as per the new sports act, the sport faces a critical crossroads, especially with the country set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The path forward remains uncertain, with serious questions about how Ugandan football will cleanse itself of this damaging vice.