UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE 

The Date: April 29th, 2025

The Contest: Vipers SC vs. UPDF FC

The Time: 7pm

The Venue: St Mary’s Stadium

Fresh from back-to-back league victories, Vipers SC return to action under the Kitende floodlights as they host UPDF FC in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) on Tuesday.

With the title race heating up, every game is crucial. The Venoms currently lead the standings with 59 points after 25 matches, holding a five-point cushion over second-placed NEC FC. With just five games left to play, securing maximum points remains non-negotiable for the defending champions.

Momentum & Mission

The Venoms are riding high after a dominant 3-1 win over NEC FC, followed by a gritty 1-0 triumph against Maroons FC. At St. Mary’s Stadium this season, Vipers have turned Kitende into a fortress—winning nine and drawing three of their 12 home fixtures.

Meanwhile, UPDF FC come into this clash sitting eighth on the table with 33 points from 25 matches. The Army side will be eager to cause an upset but face a daunting task against a Vipers team firing on all cylinders.

Fortress Kitende: Home Comforts

Vipers boast a flawless recent record against UPDF. In the first round this season, the Venoms secured a 1-0 victory in Bombo through Allan Okello. In their most recent meeting at Kitende, Vipers edged UPDF 2-1, with Okello and Eric Kenzo Kambale on the scoresheet.

Since the 2014/15 season, the two sides have clashed 15 times, with Vipers unbeaten—winning 11 and drawing four. The Venoms have scored 33 goals and conceded just eight against the Army side during this run.

Captain’s Corner: Fired Up

Vipers SC skipper Milton Karisa has called for maximum concentration ahead of the high-stakes encounter:

“We are well prepared and we have nothing else but an objective of going out for all the three points,” said Karisa.

“We know very well what’s at stake. We have a five-point lead at the top but that doesn’t mean we should relax. My fellow players know what we have to do until the last game.”

“We will be at home with a little bit of pressure but we are used to that because that’s part of our job. All we have to do is come to the game well prepared, freshen up, and fight with every bit of our energy and our hearts out to make sure we get maximum points.”

Final Word

The mission is clear: defend home turf, grab three more points, and edge closer to another glorious season. With the captain rallying the troops, fans can expect an intense, all-action performance at Kitende under the lights.

SIDE BAR – STATISTICS CORNER

• Vipers SC: 59 points from 25 matches (1st place)

• UPDF FC: 33 points from 25 matches (8th place)

Head-to-Head: Vipers SC v UPDF FC

• Total Meetings: 15

• Vipers Wins: 11

• Draws: 4

• UPDF Wins: 0

• Goals Scored by Vipers: 33

• Goals Conceded: 8

Previous Encounters

• December 2024: UPDF FC 0-1 Vipers SC (Goal by Allan Okello)

• Last season at Kitende: Vipers SC 2-1 UPDF FC (Goals by Allan Okello and Eric Kenzo Kambale; Henry Tenywa for UPDF)

Key Players to Watch

• Vipers SC: Allan Okello, Milton Karisa, Karim Watambala

• UPDF FC: Samuel Kayongo Ssekamatte, Joseph Janjali, Samson Andrew Kigozi