Vipers Sports Club’ Uganda Premier League 2026/27 season got off to a deflating start, with a 1-0 defeat at St Mary’s stadium, Kitende to Entebbe UPPC FC.
Congolose defender Kevin Dasylva Bady put through his own net from Thomas Ochungo’s cross following miscommunication between him and goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba on 32 minutes despite no pressure from any Entebbe UPPC player.
Despite plenty of possession, Denis Lavagne’s men could not find a way past Abdallah Mubiru’s team, as the away supporters celebrated a famous victory, leaving the Venoms to lick our wounds before facing switching our attention to the CAF Champions League, next weekend.
This was the first league game for our new French coach Denis Lavagne who will be under early pressure with club’s next game against Mauritania’s side FC Nouadhibou. It was also the first loss for Vipers SC who went last season unbeaten save for the boardroom decision against KItara FC that went against them.
The Venoms were second best against a UPPC side that should have been out of sight by the time Vipers put them under pressure in the second half.
However, UPPC started to grow in confidence and belief when Ibrahim Orit forced goalkeeper Mbaba into a save but a slight hesitation helped the Venoms recover well.
The Venoms continued to struggle to create genuine chances, with a Gusto Mulongo shot easily going into the side net. In truth, the best effort of the opening quarter of the second period came from the Printers, forcing Mbaba to make two unorthodox saves with his feet keeping out a Reich Kokolo strike and also pushing wide an Ochungo cross 10 minutes into the second half.
Orit has missed the target with a header at the start of the second half from Gideon Odongo’s cross as the UPPC attack led by Orit, Sharif Ssengendo and Steven Munguchi flourished.
The match fizzled out, including five minutes of stoppage time, with Usama Arafat lobbing the final effort well wide. This was not the start we were all hoping for.
Vipers SC: Loyce Mbaba (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Hilary Mukundane (C), Kevin Dasylva, Princewill Tarabina: (Isaac Ogwang 87), Joel Sserunjogi (Usama Arafat 52); Marvin Youngman, Karim Watambala, Odili Chukwuma (Yunus Sentamu 71); Farouk Miya, Gusto Mulongo.
Subs not used: Denis Kiggundu, Jack Komakech, Derrick Ndahiro, Milton Karisa, Annest Ankunda, Patrick Mbowa.