URA will welcome BUL to Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, in a crutial StarTimes Uganda Premier League (UPL) clash today at 7pm.
Under the stadium floodlights, the Tax Collectors will be chasing their third win of the season after an impressive 4-0 victory on the road in their last outing.
URA, currently fifth on the table with seven points from four matches, are eager to secure their first home win of the campaign after a 1-1 draw with Mbarara City in their previous home fixture.
For BUL, the match comes at a critical time as they seek their first win of the season.
The Eastern Giants have had a poor start, sitting second from the bottom with just two points from four matches, including two losses and two draws.
Head coach Abbey Kikomeko is under increasing pressure following consecutive defeats to SC Villa and Mbarara City.
Failure to secure a win could intensify scrutiny on his tenure, especially with BUL having championship ambitions at the start of the season.
URA, guided by former BUL coach Alex Isabirye, will be without forward Moses Aliro, who is nursing a hamstring injury, and goalkeeper Abdul Magada, Innocent Kisoro, Dennis Kisiriko, and Geoffrey Ssekibengo, all of whom are on duty with the Uganda Hippos in Tanzania.
However, they welcome the return of midfielder Isma Mugulusi, who re-joins the squad after compassionate leave following the loss of his father.
On the other side, BUL will see the return of midfielder Ibrahim Mugulusi from compassionate leave.
However, they will be without key players Swabiru Mpasa, Richard Okello, Lwenda Sowedi, and Innocent Rwothomiyo, who are also with the Uganda Hippos.
A win for URA could potentially take them to the top of the table, especially if NEC falters in their home fixture against Maroons earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, another loss for BUL would not only deepen their struggles but could also spell disaster for Kikomeko, who will be without assistants Simeon Masaba and Noah Kasule, currently away with the national U-20 side in Dar es Salaam.
History favours URA in this fixture, with the Tax Collectors winning 11 of the 26 previous league meetings between the two sides.
BUL has never beaten URA away, managing only seven draws and five losses in their last 12 visits.
URA has also been solid at home, losing just one of their last 14 league matches, while BUL has struggled on the road with only three wins in their last 14 away matches.
With both teams needing a result for different reasons, tonight’s game promises to be a thrilling encounter under the Nakivubo lights.
