The 2024/25 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season comes to end on Saturday but what are the five things to look out for.
Vipers crowning moment
Almost all eyes will be at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende where champions Vipers will be crowned on the day they host Soltilo Bright Stars.
It will be the seventh time in history that the Venoms lift the trophy and are now equal with Express – joint third behind record winners and outgoing champions SC Villa (17) and KCCA (13).
Four sides fighting for two slots to complete top 8 teams
In a league where league positions don’t matter a lot, finishing in the top eight grants an opportunity for the pre-season Fufa Super 8 tournament.
Champions Vipers, second placed NEC, URA, KCCA and SC Villa are assured of a top eight finish but 7th placed Kitara (41 pts), 8th placed Maroons (40 pts), 9th placed Express (39 pts) and 10th placed UPDF (39 pts) all have a chance to seal a place.
Express and UPDF must win their respective matches at home to KCCA and BUL but also pray Kitara and Maroons falter in their matches away to Mbale Heroes and at home to Mbarara City respectively.
Can BUL finish the second round unbeaten?
With 10 wins and four draws, BUL have collected the most points in the second round of the season same as Vipers – 34 points.
They are unbeaten in the second round of the season and will hope to seal that unbeaten record away to UPDF who are also chasing a top eighth finish.
Bright Stars, Wakiso Giants to bow out
Wakiso town will be short of two teams in the next season’s premier league after Soltilo Bright Stars and Wakiso Giants call their time on a 13 and 5 years in the top division.
The Stars were promoted in 2013 while the Purple Sharks earned their premier league ticket in 2019.
Okello vs Ahimbisibwe in the battle for golden boot
Vipers’ play maker Allan Okello has a chance to join a long list of players ever to win the UPL golden boot.
With 18 goals, the ex-KCCA and AC Paradou man is two goals ahead of URA’s Ivan Ahimbisibwe who has a chance to overtake the Vipers’ no.10 if he gets a hattrick against NEC hoping Okello doesn’t add to the tally versus Bright Stars.
Tony Odur (21 goals) in the maiden title winning season in 2009/10, Dan Sserunkuma (17 goals) in 2017/18, Yunus Sentamu (16 goals) in 2020/21 and Ceaser Manzoki (18 goals) in 2021/23 are the other Vipers’ players to clinch the golden boot that Okello could join.
For Ahimbisibwe, he will look to emulate Hamis Kitagenda (20 goals) in 2006/07, Hamis ‘Diego Kiiza (14 goals) in 2010/11 and Robert Ssentongo (13 goals) in 2011/12 as others URA forwards to win the top scorer’s gong.
Saturday May 24 2025 – SEASON ENDING FIXTURES @ 3pm
- Vipers SC vs Soltilo Bright Stars – Kitende
- Express vs KCCA – Nakivubo
- Lugazi vs SC Villa – Najjembe
- Wakiso Giants vs Police – Wakissha
- Kitara vs Mbale Heroes – Mbale
- Maroons vs Mbarara City – Luzira
- UPDF vs BUL – Bombo
- NEC vs URA – Lugogo
