Vipers SC return to action under the St. Mary’s Stadium floodlights on Sunday night, hosting Mbarara City in a Uganda Premier League clash that carries heavy emotional weight.
The Venoms will take to the pitch for the first time since the tragic passing of their Nigerian forward, Abubakar Lawal, and will look to honour his memory with a spirited performance.
Lawal’s shocking death on Monday, February 24, after falling from Voice Mall in Bwebajja, has cast a somber mood over the club.
The players and management have spent the week mourning, holding dua prayers on Thursday, while his body is set to be repatriated to Nigeria on Sunday; coinciding with matchday.
Despite the heartbreak, Vipers must now refocus on their title charge as they seek to move back to the top of the table.
NEC’s 1-0 victory over Lugazi at their slaughterhouse in Lugogo on Saturday soared them to 40 points, level with Vipers.
However, since the Diehards have a better head to head record than the Venoms, the former now lead the standings, and Vipers will be aiming to reclaim the top spot.
Mbarara City, meanwhile, sit in 12th place with 20 points, just seven above the relegation zone, and will be desperate for a positive result in Kitende.
Vipers’ Dominance Over Mbarara City
History favours Vipers, who have won six of their 13 previous league meetings against Mbarara City, drawing five and losing just twice.
In October’s reverse fixture, Allan Okello struck twice, and Yunus Sentamu added another as Vipers secured a 3-1 victory at Kakyeka Stadium.
Their most recent encounter, a Uganda Cup Round of 32 clash on February 20, saw Vipers claim a comfortable 2-0 win, with Okello and Sentamu again on the scoresheet.
The last time the two sides met at Kitende in the league, Vipers cruised to a 4-1 victory, with Milton Karisa netting twice alongside goals from Lawal and Karim Watambala.
Mbarara City’s only league win over Vipers at Kitende came in the 2020/21 season—a 3-2 triumph that remains their most famous result against the Venoms.
Team News
Vipers will be without captain Milton Karisa, who faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to injury.
Striker Isaac Ogwang is working on regaining full fitness and could return after the international break, while Annest Ankunda has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a foot fracture in the recent Uganda Cup tie against Mbarara City.
However, young goalkeeper Jack Komakech has been named in the matchday squad for the first time since completing his UACE exams.
Midfielder Abubakali Walusimbi, meanwhile, has joined Uganda’s U17 team for their AFCON preparations in Morocco.
For Mbarara City, key player Karim Ramathan has not traveled due to a knee injury, while new signings Peter Onzima, Hamza Mulambuzi, and Herbert Onyango are in line for debuts after receiving FUFA clearance.
Emotional Night at Kitende
With emotions running high, Vipers will need to turn their grief into motivation as they push for an important three points.
The Venoms have made Kitende a fortress, and despite the heavy atmosphere, they will be expected to rise to the occasion.
For Mbarara City, former Vipers coach Livingstone Mbabazi will be keen to mastermind an upset against his former employers.
The Ankole Lions will need to be at their best to contain a Vipers side determined to win in honor of their fallen teammate.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM under the Kitende floodlights, in what promises to be an emotional yet compelling contest.
