Overview:
Vipers are just two wins away from securing their seventh league title, while NEC keeps them in sight with a late show, and Wakiso Giants sets up a winner-takes-it-all clash with Mbarara City next match day.
The Uganda Premier League is in the final bend and with match day 26 done, here are the 5 talking points.
Vipers close in on title but NEC keeps them in sight with late show
A potential seventh league title is on the brink being captured at Kitende after Vipers fought hard and nail to beat UPDF 1-0 on Tuesday.
The result means the Venoms are just two wins away from confirming their triumph although that will depend on results from NEC matching Vipers’ results.
Hussein Mbalangu’s men nearly gave away their slim title hopes until the last minute when Jacob Okao scored a winner to sink Mbarara City in a 2-1 win.
Five points remain the gap between the two sides and for the neutrals, they hope the league goes down to the wire.
Mbale Heroes relegated, Soltilo Bright Stars on the brink
Mbale Heroes spent 17 years in the lower divisions before returning to the top tier for the 2024/25 season. However, their life span in the premier league ended even before the season ends following defeat to Maroons in front of their own fans.
Their relegation has been mainly administrative with wrangles affecting the team who have accumulated just 10 points so far leaving a gap of 13 points between them and safety positions yet only 12 points remain to fight for.
Wakiso Giants sets up winner takes it all against Mbarara City
Wakiso Giants earned a point at Kitara while Mbarara City failed to hold as they lost late to NEC at Kakyeeka.
The two results mean the difference between the two is three points ahead of their relegation six pointer at Kabaka Kyabaggu next match day.
Mbarara City occupy the last safety position while the Purple Sharks are just below.
Next week’s clash could potentially decide who goes down to join already relegated Mbale Heroes and probably Soltilo Bright Stars who are 7 points below the Ankole Lions and second from bottom.
Kitara lethargic league form continues
The goalless draw against Wakiso Giants means Kitara has not scored a league goal in 270 minutes of football and winless in four successive matches.
The suspension to Patrick Kaddu, Titus Ssematimba and George Senkaaba could be part of the reason for their blunt attack and this must be a wary for Wasswa Bbosa ahead of the two-legged semis versus Vipers although Kaddu and Ssenkaaba will be back for both ties but not Ssematimba.
No Ochora, Mwere, Kikomeko but Bul march on
Despite missing key players Nicholas Mwere and Walter Ochora plus their head coach Abbey Kikomeko, Bul extended their unbeaten run in the league to 15 matches after humbling Lugazi FC.
BUL’s last loss was a 2-0 home loss to UPDF in December last year and have dropped only 10 points out of a possible 45.