Stanbic Uganda Cup 2025/26 (Quarter-final 4):

• Happy Boys Kagaba 0-1 Sports Club Villa

Other quarter finals:

• NEC 0 (3) – 0 (4) Vipers
• URA 2 (4) -2 (2) KCCA
• Kitara 3-0 Express

It took Sports Club Villa 71 minutes to break the resilience of fourth division entity Happy Boyz Kagaba and progress to the semi-final of the 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup.

On a sunny afternoon of Easter Monday, Andrew Otim was the hero with the all-important goal after an initial header from Patrick Jonah Kakande at Kagaba primary school playground in Kassanda district.

Before Otim’s goal, an easy tap-in at the back post, the game had stalled goal-less with the hosts growing in confidence minute after minute.

Moses Ssemugga, Allan Jjumba, left wing attacker Pius Kamoga, the diminutive winger Eddie Bulwanyi and second half substitute Stuart Kezaala all posed provocations to the Jogoo backline which stood firm alongside the goalkeeper David “Raya” Lukwago.

The visitors pushed numbers upfront and called for a couple of tactical changes; which reaped instant dividends.

Najib Yiga executed a free kick that Kakande headed towards the path of a totally unmarked Otim who tapped home past the Happy Boyz Kagaba goalkeeper to silence the noisy home crowd.

The final whistle from FIFA female referee Shamirah Nabadda ignited celebrations from the SC Villa players and traveling Jogoo faithful.

Other semi-finalists:

Sports Club Villa joins three other clubs at the semi-finals; Vipers, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Kitara.

Vipers eliminated NEC 4-3 in post match penalties after a goalless draw in normal time at the MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo.

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) recovered from two goals down to eject Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) 4-2 in post match penalties at Hamz stadium (Nakivubo War Memorial grounds) on Holy Saturday.

On Easter Sunday, Kitara dumped Express 3-0 at the Royal Park in Butema. Two former Express players were on target for Kitara. George Ssenkaaba scored a brace and Alex Emmanuel Wasswa added the other.

The draw for the semi-finals will be held soon prior to the two legged affairs to determine the finalists for this year.

The winner of the Stanbic Uganda Cup earns the ticket to represent the country at the CAF Confederation Cup.

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Stanbic Uganda Cup 2025/26 (Quarter-finals)          

• Kitara 3-0 Express

Kitara Football Club defeated Express 3-0 in the third quarter final of the 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup played at the Royal Park in Butema on Easter Sunday.

George Senkaaba scored a brace and Emmanuel Alex Wasswa added the other as Kitara booked them a spot in this knock out cup semi-finals.

Senkaaba opened the scoring in the 27th minute after tapping in the net from close range when Express goalkeeper Hafizi had spilled a header from Tala following Gaddafi Wahabu’s free-kick.

Senkaaba, a former forward at Express found his second goal 7 minutes into the second stanza.

Wasswa, a former captain at Express tormented the former pay masters with the icing on the cake goal in the 85th minute.

“This is a team victory as we now look forward the semi-finals. I thank the sponsors of this tournament Stanbic Bank and Federation of Uganda Football Associations for organizing” Senkaaba who was named as man of the match remarked moments after the game.

In this contest, Kitara players wore black arm bands in honour of the Kikuube district LC V chairperson Hon Peter Araali Banura who died after a road accident.

Kitara joins holders Vipers and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in the semi-finals.

Vipers eliminated NEC 4-3 in post match penalties after a goalless draw at the MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo in normal time and the extra 30 minutes played.

URA ejected KCCA 4-2 also in post match penalties after a 2-all draw stalemate at the Hamz stadium.

The last quarter final will be played on Easter Monday when Sports Club Villa visits Happy Boys Kagaba in Kassanda.

The winner of the Stanbic Uganda Cup books a ticket to represent the country at the CAF Confederation cup.

Team Line ups:

Kitara XI: Meddie Kibirige (G.K), Edward Namasa, Jasper Ahebwa (Captain), Samuel Kato Nemeyimana, Benjamin Nyakoojo, Ssenoga, Yunus Sibira, Gaddafi Wahabu, George Senkaaba, Living Kabon, Jimmy Kalema

Subs: Aziz, Byamukama, Musisi, Isa Lumu, Murushid Juuko, Amir Kakomo, Doka Mweru, Emmanual Asiki, Byarugaba, Emmanuel Alex Wasswa, Patrick Henry Kaddu, Frank Tumwesigye

Head coach: Wasswa Bbosa      

Express XI: Hafizi (G.K), Ronald Onzima, Wambuga, Rwontngeyo, Lubega, Isa Glory, Blanchar Mulamba, Wamala, Mikidadi Ssenyonga, Elvis Ssekajugo

Subs: Kiberu, Adriko, Nyanzi, Kimera, Ali, Herbert, Kisa, Baker Sakah, Muwonge

Head coach: Jimmy Kintu

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The death and resurrection of Christ gifted Ugandan football lovers a compelling Uganda Cup Quarterfinal clash between defending champions Vipers SC and NEC FC.

At the time the fixture was announced, many anticipated a high-octane encounter between two of the most in-form sides, expected to deliver fireworks and send fans into the Easter weekend in high spirits. However, the match failed to live up to that billing.

Both regulation time and extra time produced little in terms of clear-cut excitement, ultimately leading to a penalty shootout, as provided for under Law 10 of the Laws of the Game and the competition regulations.

The defining moment of the match arose during the penalty shootout. Vipers SC’s Abdul Karim Watambala accidentally slipped while striking his penalty, resulting in an accidental double contact with the ball. The ball entered the goal, but the match referee, FIFA referee Lucky Razake Kasalirwe, assisted by FIFA Assistant Referee Hakim Mulindwa, Assistant Referee Ivan Lubwama (National Elite Referee), and Fourth Official Ronald Kikabi, correctly ordered a retake.

This decision sparked widespread debate among fans, many of whom questioned its correctness. However, a proper reading of the Laws of the Game as amended by IFAB for the 2025/2026 season provides clear guidance.

If a player taking a penalty kick accidentally touches the ball twice and the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken. If the ball does not enter the goal, it is not retaken and play is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team (or recorded as a miss in kicks from the penalty mark). A deliberate double touch is always penalized with an indirect free kick and the kick is not retaken.

IFAB

This clarification was introduced in the 2025/2026 edition of the Laws to uphold fairness. It recognises that accidental actions such as slipping should not unjustly disadvantage a player, while still maintaining firm sanctions against deliberate attempts to gain an unfair advantage. In this instance, Watambala’s action was clearly accidental, and therefore, the decision to order a retake was fully in line with the law.

Another point of contention among supporters concerned the choice of the goal used for the shootout. Some argued that the selected end disadvantaged their team. However, the Laws are equally explicit on this matter.

If the scores are level at the end of the match and competition rules require a winner, the referee conducts a coin toss to decide which goal will be used for the kicks and which team will take the first kick. A second coin toss is then made, and the team that wins the toss chooses whether to take the first or second kick.

IFAB

This procedure, formally reinforced in 2017, was designed to enhance neutrality, eliminate external influences, and ensure fairness in determining the outcome of matches decided by kicks from the penalty mark.

In conclusion, the officiating team demonstrated commendable competence and adherence to the Laws of the Game. Fresh from their recent international engagements, referees Lucky Razake Kasalirwe and Hakim Mulindwa, Ivan Lubwama, and Ronald Kikabi deserve praise for correctly interpreting and applying the laws under pressure.

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