From Allan Okello to Usama Arafat: Meet the players who have played for both Vipers and KCCA FC

The rivalry between Vipers and KCCA, the two most successful sides in the past two decades in Ugandan football continues to grow every day.

In recent years, even representing both sides as player during your career has literally become a taboo.

With the two sides set to face off in the premier league on Friday at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende, there a current crop on either side that has been brave enough to cross the divide.

The latest in a long list of more than 20 players to play for both sides in winger Usama Arafat who will don the red and black of Vipers after turning a down a new contract at Lugogo.

Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga takes a look at the long list of players who have been part of both clubs before him.

Tom Masiko

The son of KCCA FC legend, club life captain Charles Baker Masiko did the unthinkable when he refused to sign a new contract after helping the club to a historic league and cup double in 2017.

The intelligent midfielder instead swapped Lugogo for Kitende in a deal alleged to be worth over Ugx. 100 million.

Masiko spent over eight years with KCCA, winning four leagues, a Uganda Cup trophy and also played in the Caf Confederation cup group stages.

At Kitende, he won the league in his first year before he left for Wakiso Giants on loan and later on a permanent deal. Not sure he is loved at KCCA as before he made the move.

Allan Okello

By contrast to Masiko, the play maker remains generally loved by both sets of fans.

Okello left many KCCA faithful shocked when he was unveiled by Vipers despite spending a season earlier at the Lugogo side on loan from Algeria’s AC Paradou.

The Ugandan international is a product of the KCCA academy and won several titles while at Lugogo before he left for Algeria.

After sitting out literally the entire first season, Okello regained his full fitness and has since won two league titles with Vipers and the Uganda Cup. He also scored against his former pay masters last season at Lugogo.

Usama Arafat

Like Masiko, Usama could earn a few enemies on the yellow side after refusing to sign a new contract and instead end up with KCCA’s latest rivals.

Usama is potentially one of the best wingers in the country at the moment and if Vipers can get the goods out of him, KCCA will realise how much they lost a gem.

Moses Waiswa

In his own submission, Waiswa only joined KCCA to satisfy his father’s wish.

The highly rated midfielder spent one and half seasons at Lugogo after he signed for the Kasasiro from South Africa’s SuperSport which he had joined from Vipers SC.

The midfielder didn’t live up to his billing at KCCA and has never been the player that attracted suitors while in his first stint at Kitende. He is into his final year of the contract

Ashraf Mugume

A versatile, technically proficient midfielder, Mugume is a product of Vipers’ de facto academy St. Mary’s SS where he was school captain.

He was immediately promoted to the senior team but failed to breakthrough and moved to Police on loan from where he ended up at KCCA following expiry of his contract with Vipers.

It is said that he is one of the players Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa would love to take back to Kitende at any cost.

Last season, he broke the hearts of Vipers faithful with a late acrobatic equaliser at Kitende and didn’t hesitate to celebrate an indication that he already moved on.

Bright Anukani

Spoken about in the same breath as his peer Allan Okello, it is easy to say Anukani didn’t fully to his potential for both sides.

After spending a season on loan at KCCA from Proline, he instead made a permanent move to Vipers where he spent two seasons – winning the league.

He however made a U-turn and returned to Lugogo at the start of the previous season but things still didn’t go as planned. He is currently unattached despite having a running contract with KCCA.

Ibrahim Sadam Juma

Widely regarded as the finest midfielder of his generation, Sadam Juma was a key member of the KCCA side that reached the group stages of the Caf Champions League in 2018.

Sadam didn’t however make a straight move from Kitende as he made the short cut to Lugogo through Express where he impressed Mike Mutebi.

Juma won two league titles with Vipers including the first one in 2010 under Edward Golola and the second one in 2015 and also lifted more at KCCA but will be mostly remembered for that performance against Al Ahly at Namboole.

Tony Odur

The centre forward joined Bunamwaya (current Vipers) in 2007 moments after returning from Denmark and went to be a star at the club. He however quit the red and black for the yellow and blue of KCCA in 2012.

He won two league titles with the Kasasiro under George Nsimbe and alongside Herman Wasswa nearly took the club to the group stages of the Caf Champions League only to lose to Nkana.

He had another stint at Vipers which saw another league title to his name in 2017/18.

Odur is most remembered for his famous under garment ‘Basiima Ogenze’ celebration when he scored against childhood club Express FC while at Vipers. Meanwhile, Odur enjoyed four stints at Wankulukuku.

Owen Kasule

One of the most intelligent playmakers the game has produced played started his premier league career at KCCA in 2006 before he crossed to Kitende in 2008 and went to make history by being in the squad that won Bunamwaya (Vipers) their first league title in 2009/10.

Mike ‘Sulaiman’ Mutyaba

Mutyaba joined Vipers as youngster and went on to have two stints with the club – winning league titles.

Like Sadam Juma, Mutyaba also crossed to KCCA after reviving his career at Express and went on to be a hit under Mike Mutebi between 2018 & 2010.

Geoffrey Wasswa

Taking things one step further, Wasswa didn’t just go straight from Vipers to KCCA – he then went across to another Vipers rival, SC Villa.

The intelligent centre back, a youth product of the Vipers Junior Team left the Venoms after failing to agree on a new contract in 2021 before he crossed to the Kasasiro in 2022.

The rest, from Erisa Ssekisambu to Habib Kavuma

Plenty of other players have also crossed the divide over the years. The list of those still playing include current KCCA goalkeeper Mutwalibu Mugolofa, Paul Mucureezi, Isa Mubiru, Derrick Ochan, Allan Kyambadde, Innocent Wafula, Erisa Ssekisambu, Muwadda Mawejje and Muhammad Shaban.

The others current, currently in coaching are KCCA coach Habib Kavuma, SC Villa Junior team coach Hakim Ssenkumba, Lukuli United coach Moses Musoke, St. Noa Girls team assistant coach Vincent Kayizzi.

Then there is Eddie Mubiru, Simon Namwanja, Juma Balinya and Simon Sserunkuma.