Following a brief Afcon break, the Uganda Premier League is back! It was over a three-week hibernation to allow the Uganda Cranes feature at the Afcon 2025 in Morocco.
Sadly, the team didn’t make it out of the group, finishing bottom of pool C that had Tanzania, Tunisia and Nigeria.
Now, the concentration is back to the topflight with matchday 12 starting on Wednesday at various venues.
Thirteen-time champions KCCA went into the break on top with 26 points, two ahead of champions Vipers who have a ‘game in hand’ and three better than SC Villa.
But it is not just the trio vying for the title, with Police, Kitara and newcomers Entebbe UPPC lurking just behind.
Title race: Can KCCA finally end a six-year jinx?
Despite suffering defeat to champions Vipers early on, KCCA picked form at the right time and in eleven matches, that is the only defeat.
They won six matches on the bounce, including beating giants URA, BUL, Express and NEC even without key players Charles Lukwago, Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Shafik Nana Kwikiriza in some games.
The Kasasiro also have a decent record when leading the table at this time and maybe, this could be the time to win the title again.
But with the quality at Vipers and the way SC Villa have gone about their business, the Kasasiro need to maintain focus all through.
It is too early in the season and from the look of things, it will be a hotly contested race till the end of the season.
The new coaches: Will the new coaches at URA, BUL save their respective seasons?
During the break, URA appointed Hussein Mbalangu and BUL recalled Alex Isabirye to take over the mantle.
Mbalangu must take the tax collectors from 10th position where they lie with only 11 points from as many games.
Isabirye’s BUL is a point below in 12th position and on same points as the Buhimba which occupies the first position in the relegation zone. Can they save their club’s respective seasons?
Lugazi also has a new man in the dugout in Simon Peter Mugerwa and he must make an impact immediately.
Relegation battle: Nine teams can still drop to the relegation zone
The difference between Buhimba United Saints on 10 points and Express FC, which occupies 8th position, is just two points.
The Red Eagles, the oldest side in the Premier League are not safe and their problems could even escalate with a host of players expected to leave in the forthcoming transfer window.
It is not just about them but URA, NEC, BUL, UPDF, Mbarara City, Lugazi are all nearer to the red zone.
If the trend of results for those sides continues the same way, expect a relegation battle that will surely be exciting but as well intense for the involved sides.
Matchday 12 Fixtures
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
- Buhimba vs Maroons – Royal Park, Butema 4pm
- Police vs KCCA – Police Arena, Kiira Road 4pm
- Vipers vs Mbarara City – St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende 8pm
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Calvary vs BUL – Midigo P/S Ground 4pm
- Kitara vs UPDF – Royal Park Butema 4pm
- NEC vs Lugazi – MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo 8pm
Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Express vs SC Villa – Hamz stadium, Nakivubo 8pm
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- URA vs Entebbe UPPC – Hamz stadium, Nakivubo 3pm