Mbalangu warns Vipers as they start life without Okello

Saturday January 24, 2026

• Mbarara City vs Lugazi – Rwamwanja stadium, Kamwenge 4pm
• NEC vs Kitara – MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo 4pm
• Express vs Buhimba United Saints – Nakivubo 5pm
• URA vs Vipers – Nakivubo 8pm

Despite going four matches without a win, URA head coach Hussein Mbalangu says match against Vipers could be perfect to get back to winning ways.

The tax collectors host the champions at Hamz stadium, Nakivubo in their first official match since the departure of playmaker Allan Okello to Young Africans.

The Venoms have a chance to re-open a three-point gap at the top after rivals Villa and KCCA faltered.

They will be favourites against a side that has managed just three wins all season but Mbalangu who started off his URA career with a 1-0 defeat to Entebbe UPPC last week is confident.

“I trust this group completely. They have worked, they have suffered, and now they want to show their true level,” he stated.

“We are not going to sit back. We are going to compete, be brave, and play our football. The attitude in training has been excellent. That tells me the players understand the responsibility of this game.”

He also warmed that this will be a game decided by fine margins.

“In matches like this, one moment, one mistake, one action can decide everything. We must be sharp.”

He will hope that players like Moses Aliro, Nelson Ssenkatuka and Fred Amaku among others are in fine form.

For the Vipers, this is the right time for Usama Arafat, Karim Watambala and Yunus Sentamu to show up and send a message that Okello is not going to be missed.

Vipers are on 27 points, same as Police and KCCA while URA are on 11 points just one above the relegation zone.

Key Stat

• Vipers are unbeaten in seven premier league meetings against URA [W6, D1]

Elsewhere on Saturday, Express host Buhimba United Saints in the early kick off at Nakivubo, NEC are at home to Kitara while Mbarara City take on Lugazi in Kamwenge.