Football
Otim breaks the hearts of resilient Happy Boyz Kagaba as Sports Club Villa storm semi-finals | 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup

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.
The post Otim breaks the hearts of resilient Happy Boyz Kagaba as Sports Club Villa storm semi-finals | 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Football
Vipers braced for most difficult game against Gor Mahia – Lavagne

Monday July 27, 2026
- Pele stadium, Kigali 4pm [EAT]
Denis Lavagne still maintains that Vipers’ main target is the start of the season in Uganda when his side face Kitara in the Fufa Super Cup on August 23 but remain braced for Gor Mahia clash.
The Cecafa Kagame Cup Group A clash at Pele stadium, Kigali pits two sides who won their opening two matches and a win could secure them a place in the semi-final.
Vipers saw off Djibouti’s Garde Republicaine 3-0 while Gor Mahia humiliated hosts APR 5-0 in their first game.
Lavagne expects a difficult game against the Kenyan giants who will be slight favourites in the tie.
“We are not yet 100-percent but we are here to continue with progress,” started Lavagne.
“We have a difficult game tomorrow (Monday) because Gor Mahia is a good team and won the first game so it is good test for our players.
“But I think the players want to show progress and I expect a better game than the first because despite victory, we didn’t play so well especially after the first half yet I want consistent.
“The target for me remains the August 23 Fufa Super Cup game in Uganda but we hope to win tomorrow and progress to the semi-final.”
K’Ogalo were ruthless against APR and Lavagne says this is the most difficult game in the group.
“We have to work hard and improve many things. Gor Mahia is the most difficult in the group but the players are motivated and we shall do all it takes to win.”
With APR likely to overcome Garde Republicaine in the later game, both Gor Mahia and Vipers need victory to enlighten chances of reaching the last four.
The post Vipers braced for most difficult game against Gor Mahia – Lavagne appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Football
Uganda Cranes midfielder Al-Hassan moves to Turkey

Uganda Cranes midfielder Baba Al-Hassan has joined Turkish entity Madrin 1969 Spor Club on a two-year deal.
Al Hassan, 26, joins the Turkish side from FCSB in Romania where he spent two seasons, scoring twice in 72 appearances.
We wish Baba Alhassan, who we believe will make significant contributions to our goals with his experience, character and quality, a career full of success under our red-navy blue jersey and hope that he will be beneficial to our community
Mardin 1969 Spor statement

Born in Accra, Ghana; the holding midfielder commenced his career at African Talent Football Academy before joining Real Valladolid in 2019.
He played for Real Valladolid B between 2018 and 2019 before crossed to Romania’s Hermannstadt as a free agent in 2020.
Al Hassan is capped five times for Uganda Cranes. He was part of the 25-man final squad that represented Uganda at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

For starters, Mardin Sports Club was founded in 1969 after a merger of Kalespor, Timurspor, Mezopotamyaspor and Genclikspor teams.
The Red and Navy blue colour themed entity hosts their home games at the 5700 seater 21 Kasim Stadium in Mardin.
They won the league title in the 2003/04 season.
The post Uganda Cranes midfielder Al-Hassan moves to Turkey appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Football
Uganda Cranes’ utility player Semakula joins Egyptian giants Al Ittihad Alexandria

Uganda Cranes international Kenneth Semakula has completed a move to Al Ittihad Alexandria.
The defender-cum-midfielder has been a free agent since leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Adalah earlier this year.

The former Sports Club Villa player now begins a new chapter in Egypt.
He comes along to Al Ittihad Alexandria with valuable experience from spells in Uganda, Tunisia, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

After a youthful career at Vipers Sports Club, Semakula has since featured for Busoga United, BUL and Sports Club in Uganda.
He then crossed to Club Africain in Tunisia and played for Al-Arabi (Kuwait) and lately Al-Adalah in Saudi Arabia.
Semakula is capped 23 times for the Uganda Cranes since 2021.
The post Uganda Cranes’ utility player Semakula joins Egyptian giants Al Ittihad Alexandria appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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