- Uganda Cup 2025-26 | Round of 16
- URA 3-0 Tapoh
URA Football Club booked their berth to the quarterfinals of the 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup.
A well-worked-out 3-0 home win over Northeastern Regional League side Tapoh Football Club secured that the tax collectors make it past the Round of 16 stage on Friday, 20th March 2026 at Hamz Stadium (Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds).
Olimi Bitanywaine Nyarwa, skipper Moses Aliro Okabo and super substitute Godfrey Ssekibengo were on target for Hussein Mbalangu’s side.
Nyarwa opened the scoring with a wonder looped ball from the left flank in the 33rd minute past goalkeeper Ismail Ajaru.
The hosts commanded the opening stanza 1-0. Aliro doubled the lead in the 65th minute with a heavily deflected shot off defender Joseph Okiror.
With a quarter of an hour of the time left on the clock, substitute Ssekibengo volleyed home from 25 yards to make it 3-0, to put the game far and beyond the reach of the visitors.
As early as the 6th minute; Olimi caused trouble for Tapoh Goalkeeper Ismail Ajaru who parried away the winger’s ball for safety for a corner kick.
Against the run of play, Tapoh nearly scored but URA right back James Penz Begisa was well positioned to clear off the goalline after a well delivered corner kick in the 10th minute.
URA remained on a soul searching mission when defender Joseph Bright Vuni arrived late at the back post to connect with Moses Waiswa’s inviting free-kick after 18 minutes.
The hosts’ technical docket called for an early change when midfielder Rahmat Ssenfuka paved way for John Innocent Kisolo in the 22nd minute.
Just two minutes after his introduction, the impact from Kisolo was instant with a goal bound shot blocked.
Tapoh goalkeeper Ajaru continued with a busy afternoon as he jumped over to collect a cross from Begisa off the right flank.
On the half hour mark, Aliro also had a shot on target before Tapoh’s Mark Opio had a shot blocked by URA defender Ronald Otti.
The visitors’ resilience was finally broken in the 33rd minute when Nyarwa had a decent curl off the left foot elude over the goalkeeper to fly into the net for the opener.
In the 37th minute, midfielder Waiswa’s free-kick was headed out defender Otti as URA intensified the pressure to the opposition.
At the start of the second half; Tapoh called for a double change; Vicent Oterega and Tasuba Buruhana replaced Ezekiel Odeke and Trevor Onen respectively
Waiswa had another free-kick blasted over before the tax collectors made a double change 10 minutes into the second stanza.
Denis Luzige Kisiriko replaced the rather heavy forward Derrick Kakooza and midfielder Godfrey Ssekibengo came on for Isma Mugulusi.
Three minutes later, Tapoh goalkeeper Ajaru got cautioned for handling the ball outside the goal area and the resultant free-kick by Nyarwa was defended by the defensive wall.
Nyarwa had a well timed half volley fly wide of the goal frame as URA pushed for a killer.
On the hour mark, Tapoh captain Ashiraf Micah witnessed his shot blocked.
Ssekibengo raced to the by-line to deliver a cross off the left but Kisiriko headed onto the crossbar.
URA scored the second goal through team skipper Aliro whose shot was heavily deflected off defender Okiror past the goalkeeper Ajaru.
With twenty minutes to play URA defender Otti shredded off a knock to solider on for the remainder of the game.
Joseph Ssemujju was introduced for URA in the place for the industrious Nyarwa in the 73rd minute.
Kisiriko set up Ssekibengo before the latter volleyed home the third goal with 15 minutes to play.
At this stage; the game looked done and dusted as URAtook a comfortable lead into the final bend of the game.
Waiswa once again curled over a free-kick in the 85th minute and Ssemujju registered a very weak shot that rolled out of play.
To the quarterfinals, URA joins holders Vipers, KCCA, Kitara, Sports Club Villa, NEC and regional side Happy Boyz Kagaba.
The final Round of 16 match will be played on Friday evening at Hamz Stadium between Express and Red Devo from Amolatar District.
Team Line Ups:
URA XI: Muhamad Ssekkeba (G.K), James Penz Begisa, Dissan Galiwango, Ronald Otti, Joseph Bright Vuni, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Moses Aliro Okabo (Captain), Isma Mugulusi, Moses Waiswa Ndhondhi, Nyarwa Olimi Bitanywaine, Derrick Kakooza
Subs: Derrick Ochan (G.K), Chrispas Kusiima (G.K), Bruno Junior Bunyaga, John Innocent Kisolo, Ibrahim Wamannah, Fred Amaku, Justine Opiro, Joshua Letti Lubwama, Norman Namanya, Joseph Ssemujju, Denis Luzige Kisiriko
Tapoh XI: Ismail Ajaru (G.K), Joseph Okiror, Trevor Onen, Simon Ocungkompit, David Okolong, Solomon Esadu, Patrick Oloya, Ezekiel Odeke, Micah Ashiraf (Captain), Mark Opio, Daniel Okolong
Subs: Pampas Amolo, Benedict Ocen, Robert Obaloker, Francis Okiror, Buruhana Tasuba, Vincent Oterega, Abdallah Etegu
Center Referee: Diana Murungi