Kitara FC claimed bragging rights in the Western Derby against ten-man Mbarara City, edging the closely contested affair played at the Royals Park, Butema on Friday.
A late penalty by Gaddafi Wahab guided Kitara to a 3-2 win, their first of the season.
The Royals came into this game on the back of a loss to rivals Buhimba United and needed a reaction to retain to the rails.
Indeed, they had a good start, going two up through Isaac Amutuhaire and Jimmy Kalema inside the opening quarter hour of the game.
Amutuhaire opened the scores in the tenth minute before Kalema doubled the advantage five minutes later.
In the 20th minute, the visitors pulled one back through Innocent Wafula to give Mbarara City hopes of a comeback. The coach made an early change, introducing Mike Walaga in place of Kaka Omony.
At the start of the second half, he brought on Thomas Kakaire and Gaddafi Kacancu in place of Latif Ssenkubuge and Ambrose Arinda, respectively.
Mbarara City were, however, reduced to ten men with goalkeeper Fahad Emuran sent off at the hour mark. The coach had to make a forced change to bring on goalkeeper Stuart Kafuluma.
Six minutes later, Henry Kitegenyi levelled matters despite the Ankole Lions playing with a man less.
With the game destined for an end, Kitara were awarded a penalty by referee Lucky Kasalirwe for a foul on Eddy Ssebandeke.
Wahab took the resultant penalty and fired the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the home fans. On the other hand, the visitors were left frustrated and the referee had to be escorted off the pitch by stewards.
The result means Kitara move up to ninth place on four points from three games, while Mbarara City drop to 12th position on two points and remain winless in their first four games.
