STANBIC UGANDA CUP FINAL
The Date: June 3rd 2023
The Contest: Police FC vs. Vipers SC
The Time: 3pm
The Venue: Akii-Bua Stadium, Lira

The much awaited Stanbic Uganda Cup final is upon us at John Akii-Bua Memorial Stadium in Lira this Saturday when Vipers SC take on Police in what promises to be a mouth watering encounter.

Coach Alex Isabirye’s troops made it through to the final by overcoming Soltilo Bright Stars with a 4-1 aggregate. The Venoms go into this one with two potential birds in focus. 

Should we beat Police, we shall have won both the title and our first ever historic double, which has eluded us on two previous occasions. 

The clash against Big League side, Police, in a repeat of the 2021 Uganda Cup semi final. The Cops advanced to the final after a hard-fought away goals rule victory over Adjumani Town Council.

The fixture will be Vipers third consecutive final in a space of three years and the seventh overall appearance at the final in a space of 11 years, while it’s Police second final.

Both clubs come into this fixture having lost their previous Uganda Cup finals with identical 3-1 scorelines – Vipers to BUL in 2022 and Police to Express in the 2001 final.

The Venoms have won the Uganda Cup on two occasions in 2016 and 2021, while Police are seeking a first trophy.

Previous Uganda Cup meetings

This is going to be the first time both teams are meeting at a Uganda Cup final but it marks the seventh overall engagement in the competition with each team having prevailed over the other three times.

2002 – First Round: Police 4-0 Vipers

The two clubs first met in a Uganda Cup tie in 2002 at the first round stage while Vipers were still playing in the lower league as Bunamwaya. Police emerged victorious with a 4-0 victory. 

Club Directors Tadeus Kitandwe and Harunah Kyobe were part of the team’s playing squad in that loss after ejecting Kiwanga and Soroti Bulls respectively before facing the Cops, who were already in the top flight league. 

2006 – Preliminary round: Police 1-0 Vipers

After conquering the CECAFA region, beating Moro United 2-1 in the Kagame Cup final, Police were pitted against the then Bunamwaya at the preliminary stage, eliminating the Venoms 1-0 through a Dan Walusimbi strike.

2007/08 – Second Round: Vipers 0-0 (1-4) Police

For the third time in a row, Police eliminated Vipers via kicks from the penalty spot after the tie ended goalless in regulation time at St Marys Kitende playground before it was upgraded to its current status. 

Sowedi Salim was the day’s star after thwarting three of Vipers four spot kicks as only Tony Odur converted his and Police progressed to the next round.

2011/12 – Quarterfinal: Vipers 4-2 Police

The Venoms at last prevailed over the Cops in a 4-2 victory at Buikwe playground with Martin Muwanga (2) aided by Ceasar Okhuti and Tony Odur netting the goals to qualify for the semi final. 

In that very season, Vipers qualified for the final where the Venoms met URA at Gulu Pece ground, losing 1-0 to the tax collectors through Robert Sentongo’s solo strike in a tie Murushid Juuko suffered a hand fracture. 

2017/18 – Round of 32: Vipers 3-1 Police

Under the guidance of Portuguese tactician Jorge Miguel Da Costa at a refurbished St Mary’s Stadium, Vipers ruthlessly tore Police apart with a 3-1 win.

Milton Karisa, Erisa Ssekisambu and Dan “Mzee” Sserunkuuma scored the three goals as Vipers went all the way to the final. Unfortunately, KCCA won the game 1-0 through Julius Poloto to deny the Venoms a double. 

2020/21 – Semifinal: Vipers 2-0 Police

Vipers last met Police in the 2021 Uganda Cup semi final, which took place at FUFA Technical Centre Njeru, as Congolese striker Caesar Manzoki silenced the Cops with a brace in a 2-0 win enroute to the final. BUL were at the receiving end in an 8-1 record final’s win for the Venoms.

The Venoms have endured some tricky ties on the road to the final, ejecting Bujumbura United, Jinja North United and Wakiso Giants through penalty kicks en route to our date with Angelo Lonyensii’s Police side in Lira.

Despite some of these knockout matches looking relatively straightforward to the untrained eye, the last three clashes against Bujumbura United, Jinja North United and Wakiso Giants were all decided via spot kicks.