Vipers SC set to represent Uganda at 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC will represent the country at the 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup, set to take place from September 2 to 15 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The tournament will bring together 12 top clubs from the East and Central African region, with one guest team expected from Southern Africa.

"We are happy to announce that the tournament will take place September 2-15th in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," confirmed Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director.

“We expect to have a more competitive tournament as most of the teams will use it to prepare ahead of the 2025/2026 CAF competitions.”

The regional competition, which is supported by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, will have a total prize purse of 60,000 U.S. dollars.

This year’s edition will feature teams from South Sudan, Zanzibar, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, and host nation Tanzania, who will present two clubs.

The Venoms recently appointed experienced Belgian coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert on a long-term deal.

Minnaert has already started training with the squad, although eight of his players are currently on national duty with the Uganda Cranes at CHAN 2024.

The club has strengthened its squad with several new signings, including Nigerian winger Odili Chukwuma, Congolese defender Kevin Dasylva Bady, Liberian striker Mark Yallah, and local midfielder Enock Ssebaggala.

This year’s Kagame Cup will follow a three-group format. Only the three group winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the semi-finals.

Vipers SC will be hoping to improve on their past performances in the CECAFA Kagame Cup.

The club has participated in the tournament three times in 2011, 2018, and 2021 but is yet to win the trophy.

Their best run came in 2011 when they reached the semi-finals, only to lose out to Tanzania’s Simba SC.