- Result: Vipers 1-1 Kitara (Agg: 1-1, Kitara advance on away goals rule)
Kitara reached the 2026 Stanbic Uganda Cup final after eliminating holders Vipers on away goals rule following a 1-1 draw at Kitende.
Gadafi Wahab scored the all-important goal for the Royals in a closely contested first half of the tie, handing his side the advantage.
Karim Watambala netted Vipers’ equaliser in the second half from a dubious penalty, but Kitara held on till the final whistle.
With the reverse fixture ending goalless, Kitara tactically started playing behind the ball and catching the hosts on break whenever they won the ball.
Midway through the first half, a well-weighted cross into the area was cleanly headed into Wahab’s path, who calmly controlled before he rolled the ball into the back of the net to send the sizeable away crowd into frenzy.
Vipers, who had lost forward Beyuku Munsi to an injury in the first half and replaced by compatriot Gusto Mulongo, made a halftime change with Abubaker Walusimbi coming on for Taddeo Lwanga.
Three minutes into the second half of the game, referee George Olemu shockingly pointed to the spot after Yunus Sentamu went down in the area. However, video replays showed no contact from defender Isa Lumu, who was booked in the process.
After a few minutes of protests from the Kitara players, Watambala put the ball in the net for the leveller to give hope to the hosts.
But despite the introduction of Milton Karisa for Sentamu later, George Lutalo’s side held on, and the final whistle was greeted with wild cheers from the visitors’ stands.
It is the second final in three seasons for Kitara, who will face either SC Villa or URA in the final.
The two sides face off at Fufa Stadium – Kadiba, on Saturday, with the Jogoos leading 2-0 from the first leg.
