Five Talking points at the halfway stage of the 2025/26 season

Vipers lead the way in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League title race heading into the second round with six points separating them three joint second placed sides.

Surprise package Entebbe UPPC shockingly occupy second place with KCCA ominously poised to strike in the second round despite a dip in form towards the end of the first round, while SC Villa, Police and Kitara are also in the mix.

But it has been a disastrous start for some of the other pre-season big spenders. NEC and BUL are mired in mid-table having lost a combined nine games while URA and Express are not far from the unwanted relegation zone.

At the bottom, the promoted Calvary sit comfortably with no win at this point but trio of UPDF, Buhimba United Saints and Mbarara City are not far either.

Our football writer Ismael Kiyonga takes a look at five talking points from the opening half of the season.

The fate of the Kitara – Vipers match remains a mystery

Halfway point of the season and Fufa competitions department, the UPL secretariat are yet to pronounce self on the game between Kitara and Vipers that was never played.

The two sides remain on 14 games at the halfway point with their fixture not rescheduled even at a time the fixture was adjusted.

For starters, Vipers were no-show for the game against Kitara FC that was slated to be played on 4^th October 2025 at Mandela National Stadium due to their protest over the new league format that FUFA had introduced before it was suspended.

Vipers have since written to Fufa for the rescheduling of the game but have no response till now.

In the corridors, it is said a decision was made with Vipers losing a match by forfeiture which could also lead to deduction of three points from already accumulated points but communication has not come out publicly.

For how long will the football fraternity wait for a decision? Fufa and UPL better communicate their decision as soon as now as continued delay could also compromise the integrity of the league.

Vipers still the team to beat

With a ‘game in hand’ as per the table standings, champions Vipers are still the team to beat and lead the way with 36 points, six better than those that occupy second place.

They are still unbeaten at this stage, scored the most goals; 32, conceded the least; 7 and have won the most matches; 11, two more than any other side.

However, their metal will be tested to the limit in the second round where they have tough away fixtures at KCCA, BUL, SC Villa, Maroons and Mbarara.

Not even the departure of ‘star boy’ Allan Okello seems to have hurt as the team now even looks more coherent.

Entebbe UPPC lead surprise packages

Entebbe UPPC only secured promotion to the premier league this season but are enjoying a dream campaign under Abdallah Mubiru.

Famous victories at URA, BUL and KCCA and away draw at SC Villa have put the Printers in second place against all odds.

Only champions and leaders Vipers have conceded fewer goals 7 than Entebbe’s 9 and are unbeaten away from home winning 6 of their seven matches on the road.

They also have the division’s leading goal scorer in Ambrose Kigozi with eight goals.

URA sink to new depths

After a seemingly positive season under Alex Isabirye who had made another return to the club, URA were hoping to kick on and challenge for a first league title in over a decade.

Instead, they have lost 6 of their 15 matches at this stage and won just 2 games so far.

With 13 points, they are two points above relegation zone and despite replacing Isabirye with Hussein Mbalangu, they have not scored a goal in 7 successive matches – the longest in the division. How low can they sink?

Express fans boycott team

Following their discontent with how their team is being administered, Express fans led by their chairperson Julius Bakunda opted to withdraw their presence in the stadia.

Many saw it as a joke but they have truly lived to their words as the Red Eagles have absconded from watching their team.

Even results on the pitch have not come as per the stature of the team with the seven-time champions 10^th on the table with 16 points, just five ahead of the red zone.

Sadly, they are expected to lose more key players in the window with reports that Richard Basangwa, Muhamad Ssenoga, Hakim Wandera all headed to NEC.