A return to the Africa Cup of Nations, a Caf Champions League feat by KCCA and end of the road for two foreign coaches at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende.
There was loads of footballing drama in 2018 – and lots that will live in the memory for a long time to come.
Our own Ismael Kiyonga came up with a list of our most memorable moments of the year in no particular order.
Cranes return to Afcon
Prior to qualifying for the 2017 edition in Gabon, Uganda had gone over 40 years without an appearance at the biggest football event in Africa.
But that’s all history as the Cranes made a return to Africa in style – qualified with a game to spare and without conceding goal in five matches.
Express FC relegation scare
Until the final day of the 2017/18 season, Uganda’s oldest football club in the top division wasn’t safe.
They spent the entire campaign in red zone but jumped out on the last day with a 1-0 win at Masavu to keep their place in the top tier.
KCCA Caf Champions League feat
SC Villa played in the finals of the Caf Champions League and Express in the semis but no Ugandan club had reached the group stages of the competition since the format was changed in early 2000s.
That changed in 2018 as KCCA reached the group stages of the lucrative competition and put up stellar performances against traditional giants Esperance and Al Ahly including stunning the later at Namboole.
Cubs’ qualification to Afcon U-17
The Uganda Cubs reached Africa’s Holy Grail in the Afcon U-17 in a year they bossed the Cecafa region.
And they could even better it come next year by reaching the World Cup only if they make it to the last four of the finals due in Tanzania in April.
Vipers wins league on last day
2018 experienced arguably the most competitive season at both ends of the table as Vipers won the league on the final day.
Going into the final games, the Venoms needed a win against relegation fighting UPDF who took the lead at Kitende or pray that KCCA falters away to Police.
At the end of the day, KCCA faltered and Vipers won reclaiming the trophy they had surrendered to the Kasasiro for two seasons.
Misagga leaves SC Villa
The return of Immanuel Ben Misagga from Zambia was greeted with cheers from Jogoos in 2014 but four years later, he was forced to resign at Villa Park.
In a silent coup within the club, Misagga was forced out unceremoniously and has joined Nyamityobora but his exit from the Blues seems to be biting hard if performances and results are anything to trust.
St. Mary’s stadium is refurbished
Vipers SC supremo Lawrence Mulindwa unveiled a refurbished stadium with lots of firsts in Ugandan football.
The most valuable individually owned stadium had a new playing surface in an astro turf pitch and world class technical benches in addition to the already enticing dressing rooms among other eye catching items at the stadium.
The Fufa Drum
A new competition was added to the Uganda football calendar and that’s none but the Fufa Drum.
The regional based competition raised eyebrows as the FA with some of the rules and regulations in relation to the playing staff as clubs were hesitant to release their players but it smoothly went on.
Buganda Region became the inaugural winners of the competition edging West Nile in a two legged final.
Another disappointing Chan display
Uganda has played at the Chan finals since 2011 but never made it beyond the group stages.
The disappointment continued in 2018 as they failed to break the jinx under new tactician Sebastien Desabre who later guided the Cranes back to Afcon.
A new league and broadcaster
Less than two months after the expiry of Azam contract, a new league sponsors in StarTimes appeared.
They did sign arguably the longest deal in Ugandan football; ten years to be specific taking over naming and broadcast rights.
A lot of controversies at the start as they chose just three stadiums for broadcast but have since backed down adding two more venues.
Vipers’ foreign coach obsession and sackings
From Portuguese Miguel Da Costa, to Mexican Espinoza to Kenyan Michael Nam Ouma, Vipers obsession with foreign coaches was on show in 2018 and so was the trigger happy hierarchy.
Da Costa was relieved of his duties less than a month after winning the league and also reaching the Stanbic Uganda Cup while his successor didn’t survive the axe after just 143 days in charge.
On to Kenyan Ouma and how long he will spend at the club at whichever capacity, only God knows.
Fufa Awards controversy maintained
The norm in the Fufa awards didn’t change as an ‘undeserving winner’ drove home.
First, the nomination list left many unanswered questions and from it, the choice of the winner was disastrous in comparison to the rest of the nominees.