Bidco Uganda Limited Football Club (BUL FC) had a perfect start to the 2019/20 Uganda Premier League season under the guidance of Peter Onen with their performance raising many people’s eyebrows. The Jinja based outfit garnered 29 points from 15 games in the first round, their best points tally in as many games since gaining promotion in 2010.
A perfect start with a home victory against Express FC was a springboard to many other good displays that included a dominant display against KCCA FC that saw them win 3-0 at the FUFA Technical Centre. By the end of the first round, BUL FC had registered only two losses against rivals Busoga United FC and leaders Vipers SC. They were just 7 points behind the Venoms and many people especially BUL FC fans were tempted into thinking they were in the title run.
Onen who was only in charge of the team for the second season after getting elevated from BUL Junior Team was arguably the best coach in the first round of the league. The way he set up his team made him outstanding, striking a balance between experience and fresh legs. For instance, veteran defender Musa Walangalira often partnered with youngster Walter Ochora who joined the team from KCCA FC.
It should be noted that Ochora missed just one game in the first round, (1-1 draw against URA FC). Even when Walangalira was side-lined due to injuries, Ochora felt comfortable playing alongside the other centre backs in Jimmy Kulaba and Willy Makuro.
Tried and tested Dennis Okot who arrived from Onduparaka FC not only did a good job in the right back position but provided his leadership skills given the wealth of experience in his legs. Godfrey Akol, Charles Ssebutinde and Richard Wandyaka were industrious in the midfield while Musa Esenu and Robert Mukongotya marshalled the search for goals.
Mukongotya and Esenu arrived as rejects at URA FC and KCCA FC respectively but Onen provided them with a second bite at the cherry. It is not surprising that the duo combined for 10 goals in the first round.
In goal, BUL FC had three young goalkeepers who seemed were on the same level and each of them performed well when the chance came. Abdu Kimera, Sanon Mulabi and Eric Kibowa all featured under Onen.
All that made BUL FC a strong team that literally challenged every team in the division. A big squad that seemed facilitated under Onen worked magic and many looked forward to what they would produce in the second and final round of the league. The big question for many was whether BUL FC would last the marathon or they were just pace setters.
Indeed, the doubters were right. The second round was the very opposite of what BUL FC had achieved in the first round. Of the ten games played so far, the Jinja based side has managed to collect just seven points.
A poor start to the second stanza saw them lose three games in a row before enduring Uganda Cup exit at the hands of Mvara Boys at the round of 64. Onen and his entire backroom staff was sacked but his successor Arthur Kyesimira equally hasn’t helped the team to regain its momentum.
With 5 games to the end of the season, BUL FC sits 6th on the log and we wait to see where they will finish the campaign.
Match 1: BUL FC 1-0 Express FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Hamis Tibita
- Deogratious Ojok
- James Otim
Match 2: Police FC 0-2 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Hamis Tibita
- Deogratious Ojok
- James Otim
Match 3: BUL FC 0-3 Busoga United FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Charles Ssempa
- Hamis Tibita
- Deogratious Ojok
- James Otim
Match 4: Wakiso Giants FC 0-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Eric Kibowa
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Deogratious Ojok
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 5: BUL FC 2-0 Maroons FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Eric Kibowa
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 6: URA FC 1-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Eric Kibowa
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Willy Makulo
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Hamis Tibita
- Robert Mukongotya
- Deogratious Ojok
Match 7: BUL FC 3-0 KCCA FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Willy Makulo
- Amos Etoju
- Walter Ochora
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Robert Mukongotya
- Deogratious Ojok
Match 8: Tooro United FC 1-2 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Ali Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Deogratious Ojok
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 9: Vipers SC 2-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Deogratious Ojok
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 10: BUL FC 1-1 Bright Stars FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Eric Kibowa
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Farouk Banga
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Deogratious Ojok
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 11: BUL FC 2-0 Kyetume FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 12: Onduparaka FC 0-0 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Eric Kibowa
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 13: BUL FC 3-0 Mbarara City FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 14: SC Villa 1-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 15: BUL FC 0-0 Proline FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Willy Makulo
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 16: Bright Stars FC 1-0 BUL FC
BUL Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Martin Aprem
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- Simon Oketch
Match 17: BUL FC 1-3 URA FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Musa Walangalira
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Martin Aprem
- Musa Esenu
- Simon Oketch
- James Otim
Match 18: Maroons FC 2-0 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Fredson Gwoto
- Ramatham Dudu
- Walter Ochora
- Godfrey Akol
- Vitalis Tabu
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Robert Mukongotya
- James Otim
Match 19: BUL FC 0-0 Wakiso Giants FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Allan Munaaba
- Willy Mukalu
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Jimmy Kulaba
- James Otim
Match 20: Busoga United FC 2-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Fredrick Nicholas Kigozi
- Jimmy Kulaba
- Willy Makulo
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssebutinde
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Joseph Ssemuju
- James Otim
Match 21: BUL FC 2-3 Vipers SC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Willy Makulo
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Vitalis Tabu
- Simon Oketch
- Robert Mukongotya
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Fredson Gwoto
Match 22: Proline FC 3-1 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Fredrick Nicholas Kigozi
- Walter Ochora
- Ramathan Dudu
- Godfrey Akol
- Vitalis Tabu
- Richard Wandyaka
- Robert Mukongotya
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Fredson Gwoto
Match 23: BUL FC 2-1 SC Villa
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Ramathan Dudu
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Fredson Gwoto
Match 24: Mbarara City FC 1-0 BUL FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Abdu Kimera
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Ramathan Dudu
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Richard Wandyaka
- Musa Esenu
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Fredson Gwoto
Match 25: BUL FC 4-0 Onduparaka FC
BUL FC Starting XI
- Sanon Mulabi
- Dennis Okot
- Richard Matovu
- Walter Ochora
- Ramathan Dudu
- Musa Walangalira
- Godfrey Akol
- Charles Ssempa
- Musa Esenu
- Joseph Ssemujju
- Fredson Gwoto