Overview:
However, Vipers alongside SC Villa, who they would have faced on league’s opening day as well as NEC who are in Nairobi for the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary second leg clash versus Nairobi United, they have made their decision on the new format known that they don’t support it.
KCCA will visit Kitara at Royals Park Butema in Hoima City in arguably the biggest fixture on the opening day of the 2025/26 StarTimes Uganda Premier League this Friday with five other games on card as well.
Under a new format that will see league played in three rounds, defending champions Vipers will not their start title defence on match day one.
Reason; they are playing in the CAF Champions League and will host Namibia’s African Stars at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende on Saturday.
However, alongside SC Villa, who they would have faced on league’s opening day as well as NEC who are in Nairobi for the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary second leg clash versus Nairobi United, they have made their decision on the new format known that they don’t support it.
Fufa did rejig the opening day fixture to ensure Villa plays Vipers on day one with many observers seeing this as a ploy by the FA to buy more time into engaging the two defiant sides.
During the UPL Annual General Meeting held last weekend in Jinja, SC Villa CEO William Nkemba left the FA and the league guessing when he said; “While everyone is embracing the new format, I want to categorically state that Villa is rejecting it in totality.”
Ssenyondo, Mugisha, Lazaro return to Royals Park Butema
Back to the games, KCCA will hope for a decent start away to Kitara with Brian Ssenyondo, Lazaro Bwambale and Rogers Mugisha facing former immediate bosses.
The two sides have met six times in the premier league with either winning three times.
Besides the premier league, they have also faced off in the Fufa Super 8 three times with either winning once and drawing as many.
In the latest meeting, KCCA came out on top in the Fufa Super 8 with a 2-0 win at Hamz stadium, Nakivubo but Kitara won the last league meeting 4-0 at Butema, a fixture that ended Abdallah Mubiru’s career at Lugogo.
New look Red Eagles take on UPDF
At Hamz stadium, Nakivubo, seven-time champions Express FC will get their season underway with a game against army side UPDF in the day’s late kick off.
With so many departures in the window, Badru Kaddu has literally a whole new squad to manage but with Rashid Kawawa, Richard Basangwa, Muhamad Ssenoga alias Kagawa and Ramsey Kawooya available, he has a backbone to build his side on.
They have looked decent in the Fufa Super 8 with their attacking football and will be favourites against Paul Kiwanuka’s Bombo based side.
Newbies clash as premier league football returns to Entebbe
At Bugonga Fisheries Ground, newbies UPPC Entebbe and Buhimba Saints face off in a clash of two newly promoted sides.
The hosts are back in the division after getting relegated as Gaddafi a couple of seasons ago while Buhimba are making their maiden appearance in the top flight.
Abdallah Mubiru has assembled a whole new squad deviating from the one that earned the team promotion and with home advantage, he will hope his team starts brightly.
Renewal of acquaintances in Njeru
BUL host URA in a fixture that renews acquaintances from the dugout to the pitch.
First, Alex Isabirye takes on former bosses BUL aiming to end an indecent run for URA against the hosts while in the opposite technical staff in caretaker Simeon Masaba, a legend with tax collectors.
The Jinja based side has won three of the last five PL meetings and are unbeaten in four.
First ever topflight football in Kamwokya
2005 premier league champions Police host Mbarara City at their new Police Arena Grounds in Kamwokya making this the first ever topflight fixture at the ground.
Former Police coach Simon Peter Mugerwa will be in the opposite dugout taking on former bosses as the new head coach at Mbarara City.
The Cops have arguably been the busiest side in the transfer window signing over 11 players and will hand debuts to experienced Said Kyeyune, Deus Bukenya and Ben Tahomera among others.
The Cops won the corresponding fixture last season 2-0 at Kavumba and will hope to repeat the same at their new home.
Mbarara City, however has won two of the past five league meetings [L1, D2]
Lugazi to treat Calvary to first PL fixture
Elsewhere, Lugazi host new league entrants Calvary at the Lugazi FC stadium in Najjembe.
Lugazi have won the previous meetings – in the Fufa Big League home and away.
Friday September 26, 2025
4pm: Kitara vs KCCA – Royals Park Butema, Hoima City Live on TV
4pm: UPPC Entebbe vs Buhimba Saints – Bugonga Fisheries Ground
4pm: Police vs Mbarara City – Kiira Road Police Arena, Kamwokya
4pm: BUL vs URA – Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru
4pm: Lugazi vs Calvary – Lugazi FC stadium, Najjembe
8pm: Express vs UPDF – Hamz stadium, Nakivubo