Vipers SC turned grief into glory as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mbarara City at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, in an emotional Uganda Premier League (UPL) encounter on Sunday.
The match was played in honor of their fallen teammate, Abubakar Lawal, who tragically passed away earlier in the week under unclear circumstances.
A moment of silence was observed before kickoff across all Matchday 18 fixtures, but it was at Kitende where emotions ran highest. The home crowd and players paid their respects before channeling their sorrow into a determined performance.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Allan Okello converted from the penalty spot after Yunus Sentamu was brought down in the box. The goal sealed Vipers’ 13th win of the season, keeping them firmly at the top of the table with 43 points, maintaining a three-point lead over NEC FC.
Mbarara City, on the other hand, remain precariously positioned just two places above the relegation zone with 20 points.
Elsewhere, UPDF FC stunned SC Villa with a 2-0 victory in Bombo. The army side, looking to avenge their heavy 5-0 defeat in the first round, struck early through Daniel Kitara in the 13th minute before Brian Kalumba sealed the win in the 77th. The victory lifts UPDF to ninth place, level on points with Villa but ahead on goal difference.
Villa’s struggles continue, as they failed to build on their previous win over Express FC.
At Luzira, Maroons and KCCA FC played out a goalless draw, with the latter still seeking their first away win since December 2024. The Kasasiro Boys sit in seventh place with 25 points, while Maroons trail them closely in tenth with 24 points.
As the league heads into its next fixtures, Vipers SC will look to extend their lead when they take on Police FC on March 6, while NEC FC faces Wakiso Giants FC on March 7, hoping to keep up the chase.
