The StarTimes Uganda Premier League brought the drama this season, from powerhouse dominance to jaw-dropping collapses, and plenty of surprises in between. Title dreams soared, crashed, and in some cases, got postponed up to God knows when.
We’ve broken down each team’s journey with a mix of hard stats, honest assessment, and a splash of light commentary. The final grades reflect consistency, progress from last season, league standings, and overall context.
The Grading Curve
- A (Excellent): Title contenders, dominant form, or massive improvement
- B (Good): Solid performers with clear progress
- C (Average): Middle-of-the-road teams, hit-or-miss seasons
- D (Needs Work): Slipping, unstable, or flirting with the drop
- F (Failure): Relegated or way off the pace
Vipers (1st Place, 69 pts)
After last season’s heartbreak, where they lost the title on the last day, Vipers returned with venomous vengeance, and were not to be stopped.
They didn’t just win; they owned the season. With a league-best 69 points, 21 wins, and just 15 goals conceded, this was a textbook display of turning pain into power.
Allan Okello finished top scorer with 19 goals, while the team remained unbeaten at home and went on a nine-game winning spree, the longest in the league. Seven titles now and counting.
Grade: A+ (They didn’t miss, they mastered it)
NEC (2nd Place, 67 pts)
NEC’s rise has been nothing short of sensational. From being an emerging side last season to finishing runners-up this year, they’ve turned heads and earned respect.
Undefeated at home with just three losses overall, NEC’s fortress-like defense (only six goals conceded at home) made them near-impossible to break down.
Grade: A (A dream season and a sign they’re here to stay)
BUL (3rd Place, 59 pts)
BUL might have dropped one spot, but they actually gathered more points than last season and posted the best second-round record with 15 unbeaten games with a commanding 12 wins. That’s elite-level consistency. While the title slipped away, the trajectory is clearly upward.
Grade: A- (Steady, solid, and increasingly serious)
URA (4th Place, 52 pts)
After a forgettable eighth-place finish last year, URA cleaned up their act. They posted the league’s fewest draws (just four) and looked like a team with purpose. Not quite title-challenging, but comfortably back among the big boys.
Grade: B+ (Now it’s time to push for silverware)
KCCA (5th Place, 50 pts)
KCCA’s brand of attacking football was thrilling at times. 33 goals at home, and five games with four-plus goals. The consistency just wasn’t there. For a club with their budget and expectations, fifth place is an underachievement.
Grade: C (Sparkling moments, but not enough to truly compete)
SC Villa (6th Place, 45 pts)
Ouch. From champions to sixth place and 14 points worse off, SC Villa’s fall was the biggest in the league. There was no sign of a serious title defense, just a flat, uninspired run that will sting all offseason.
Grade: D- (The steepest slide of the season. No excuses)
Kitara (7th Place, 44 pts)
Kitara nearly pulled off a miracle last season, chasing the title right to the wire. This year? Not quite. Despite fireworks in front of goal, including a wild 13-goal game against Mbale Heroes, their inconsistency cost them. Coach Brian Ssenyondo was sacked, and the new boss, Wasswa Bbossa, stepped in to stop the bleeding.
Grade: C- (Not catastrophic, but a sharp step back)
Maroons (8th Place, 43 pts)
No highs, no lows, just good, old-fashioned mid-table reliability. Maroons nudged their points up slightly and stayed well clear of trouble.
Grade: C+ (Not flashy, but respectable)
Express (9th Place, 39 pts)
From fighting relegation last season to finishing safely in mid-table, Express look to be turning the corner. Still, for a club with their pedigree, this should only be the start of a longer climb.
Grade: C- (Better, but not yet back to their best)
UPDF (10th Place, 39 pts)
Quietly effective, UPDF hauled themselves out of trouble and matched Express on points. It wasn’t flashy, but it was progress.
Grade: C+ (Baby steps in the right direction)
Police (11th Place, 36 pts)
Back in the top flight, Police did enough to survive. But 12 draws, the most in the league, tell the story of a team that couldn’t quite finish the job. A managerial change signaled the need for a fresh spark.
Grade: C- (Safe, but a little too safe)
Mbarara City (12th Place, 32 pts)
Same points as last season, but two places lower. There’s been no upward movement, and relegation danger continues to hover.
Grade: D+ (Stuck in neutral, and that’s a dangerous place)
Lugazi (13th Place, 31 pts)
Off the pitch, Lugazi is well-run. On it, they barely did enough to stay up. Their away form was abysmal, only six goals scored. Now that they are not newcomers anymore, the goal next season will be to show a little more bite.
Grade: D (Saved themselves, but questions linger)
Soltilo Bright Stars (14th Place, 20 pts)
Soltilo Bright Stars collapsed and there’s no other word for it. A 16-point drop from last season landed them in the relegation zone with barely a whimper.
Grade: F (A complete unraveling)
Wakiso Giants (15th Place, 20 pts)
A second major regression story. Wakiso Giants couldn’t find their footing and slipped straight into the drop zone.
Grade: F (Lost their identity and their place in the league)
Mbale Heroes (16th Place, 17 pts)
Back in the top flight, but barely made a ripple. Just 5 home goals, 8 home points, and 2 home wins. The numbers were brutal across the board.
Grade: F (Totally out of their depth)
Biggest Letdown: SC Villa
Sure, Mbale Heroes were technically worse, but Villa’s implosion hurts more. They went from champions to sixth with a 14-point dip, and they looked uninspired doing it. Expectations were sky-high. The crash was loud.
Best Performer: Vipers
No one learned from last season quite like Vipers. They turned a final-day heartbreak into pure dominance. Best attack. Best defense. Best home record. Best team. They didn’t just win, they evolved.
