Ugandan football champions Vipers SC have been officially confirmed as one of the 12 elite teams competing in the prestigious 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup. The tournament is set to take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from September 2 to 15.
The announcement made by CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo on Tuesday has sparked excitement in Uganda’s football community.
“We expect to have a more competitive tournament as most of the teams will use it to prepare ahead of the 2025/26 CAF Competitions,” Gecheo stated, highlighting the high stakes and quality of competition expected.
The tournament will be hosted by Tanzania, which will field two of its top clubs, Young Africans and Simba SC, as they look to keep the trophy on home turf.
The confirmed lineup includes powerhouses such as; Vipers SC (Uganda), Young Africans (Tanzania), Simba SC (Tanzania), Al Hilal (Sudan), Kenya Police FC (Kenya), El Merriekh SC Bentiu (South Sudan), Mlandege SC (Zanzibar), Ethiopia Insurance (Ethiopia), MCC FC (Somalia), APR FC (Rwanda), Anglesey Noir FC (Burundi), and ASAS Djibouti (Djibouti).
For Vipers SC, the tournament provides a vital opportunity to evaluate their squad against strong regional competition and refine their strategies in preparation for the upcoming CAF season.
The Kagame Cup will serve as an ideal preparatory ground for Ivan Minnaert’s side, who will be keen to make a statement of intent.
Football fans across Uganda will be keenly following Vipers’ journey, hoping they can emulate past Ugandan successes in the tournament and bring the coveted trophy back home.
The Venoms’ participation is a testament to their domestic dominance and a chance to prove their mettle on a broader, regional platform.