Villa crowned 2023/24 Uganda Premier League champions

Premier League  Saturday Results

NEC FC 0 SC Villa 2

Busoga Utd 0 BUL 2

Vipers 4 Mbarara City 1

Kitara 3 Gaddafi 0

Wakiso Giants 0 UPDF 1

Bright Stars 1 URA 1

Maroons 1 KCCA 1

Charles Lwanga and Hakim Kiwanuka scored a goal each in the second half for SC Villa to beat NEC FC 2-0 at the Philip Omondi Stadium Lugogo on Saturday to win the Uganda Premier title for the first time in 20 years. 

This is a record 17th league title for Villa who are the most successful football club in Uganda football followed by KCCA with 13 league titles.

Villa came into Saturday’s match needing nothing but victory to be champions but they struggled to break down a defensively well organised NEC side in the first half.

NEC were the better side in this opening half creating plenty of chances something that worried Villa fans who came to Lugogo in big numbers to witness their side make history. 

Villa returned to the second half more hungrier than in the first one and Charles Lwanga erupted Lugogo when he headed his side in front in the 67th minute from Umar Lutalo’s cross.

Kiwanuka sealed the victory for Villa in the 75th minute with a good right foot strike to make it 2-0 to further send the Villa fans into wild celebrations. 

At full-time, Villa fans broke down the Lugogo perimeter fence and joined their players and coaches in celebrations. 

In the VIP section too, Villa president Omar Mandela, Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga and and other dignitaries punched in the air in celebration of thier beloved club’s victory.

Villa came into the final day leading the table with 54 points,  one point ahead of rivals Vipers and BUL on 53 points.  Both BUL and Vipers won their respective matches against Busoga United and Mbarara City but were not enough as Villa finished on top with 57 points while for them, they were on 56 points each .

Kitara who were another serious title contender settled for fourth place with 54 points after winning their home game against Gaddafi in Masindi.

UPDF earned an important 1-0 win away at Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium against Wakiso Giants to survive relegation. 

The relegated teams to the FUFA Big League for next season are Arua Hill, Busoga United and Gaddafi who finished 14th, 15th and 16th respectively.