Vipers kick off UPL title defence

What the report says

Vipers SC will begin their StarTimes Uganda Premier League title defence on Friday, August 28, when they host Entebbe UPPC FC at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. under floodlights and opens a season that also draws attention to the broader state of Ugandan football, according to The Observer.

The reigning champions go into the fixture as clear favourites after a strong 2025/26 campaign in which they finished top with 67 points from 30 matches, six ahead of KCCA FC. Vipers lost only once last season, conceded 17 goals and secured the title with a 3-0 win over Maroons. Entebbe UPPC, previously known as Gaddafi FC, earned promotion from the Fufa Big League and ended last season in sixth place. The club has also strengthened its squad, including the signing of former Vipers defender Grant Matsiko on a two-year deal.

The Observer says the opener comes amid public debate about how to market local football and players, following a social-media exchange involving Fufa president Moses Magogo and retired AIGP Asan Kasingye. The article frames attendance and fan support as part of the challenge for making the league more commercially attractive.

Vipers also enter the new season with added interest around their squad and coaching changes. Farouk Miya has returned after about a decade in Europe, and French coach Denis Lavagne has taken over from Ivan Minnaert as the club prepares for both the league campaign and the Caf Champions League.