A fiery chapter in Ugandan football’s most compelling modern rivalry will unfold tonight under the floodlights of the brand-new FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, as KCCA FC and Vipers SC collide in the 2024/25 Stanbic Uganda Cup final.
More than just a battle for silverware, this clash carries with it years of tension, ambition, and legacy.
For Vipers, a victory would cement their current domestic dominance with a second double in just three seasons.
For KCCA, it is a desperate shot at redemption; a chance to silence critics, restore pride, and reclaim their place at the summit of Ugandan football after six trophyless years.
Venue of Dreams, or Nightmares
Kadiba Stadium will host its first-ever match since being opened, and what a spectacle to christen it: two of the most decorated sides of the past decade squaring off, with history and bragging rights on the line.
Tonight’s winner will not only become the first club to win a match at the newly built stadium, but also the first to lift a trophy there. The loser, meanwhile, will leave with a painful memory etched into the venue’s history.
This is the second time KCCA and Vipers meet in a Uganda Cup final. The first, back in 2018, was decided by a lone strike from Julius Poloto; now KCCA’s captain and still very much part of the fold.
He’ll be hoping lightning strikes twice, especially after scoring a brace in the Kasasiro Boys’ final league game against Express.
Desperate KCCA Eyeing Resurgence
Once the undisputed giants of Ugandan football, KCCA’s recent seasons have been defined by mediocrity and missed chances.
Their last piece of silverware came in 2019, and they haven’t even featured in a major final since then.
Finishing a distant fifth in the Uganda Premier League this season, a full 19 points behind champions Vipers, Jackson Magera’s side has one last shot at salvaging a disappointing campaign.
But they arrive in Kadiba with belief. KCCA’s journey to the final has been marked by composure and clinical finishing, most recently brushing aside Kataka FC 4-1 on aggregate in the semifinals.
Midfield maestro Gabriel “Gabi” Cardoso and striker Derrick Nsibambi have hit form at the right time, while returnees Julius Poloto, Etienne Katenga, and Mustafa Mujjuzi bolster a fully fit squad that Magera believes is peaking just in time.
“This is a club built on tradition and winning,” Magera said pre-match. “We haven’t won in a while, but the players know what this means. It’s our chance to write a new chapter.”
Venoms Hungry For a Double
Vipers, on the other hand, come into the final riding high. Already crowned Uganda Premier League champions earlier this month, the Venoms are aiming to replicate their 2022/23 feat and secure a domestic double.
It hasn’t been an easy road to Kadiba. After edging Tepa United in the Round of 64, Vipers saw off formidable sides like Mbarara City, SC Villa, and reigning champions Kitara.
Their 2-0 aggregate win over Kitara in the semifinals was a statement of intent, marked by solid defensive work and clinical finishing from Yunus Sentamu and Karim Watambala.
However, they will have to navigate the final without defensive lynchpin Hillary Mukundane, who is suspended.
The emotional state of co-coach John Ayala Luyinda, who lost his mother this week, also looms large.
But with Allan Okello, former KCCA darling and 2024/25 UPL top scorer with 19 goals, leading the line, Vipers have firepower to spare.
Supported by the likes of Milton Karisa and Yunus Sentamu, the Venoms will be confident of extending their dominance over their rivals, having already beaten KCCA 2-0 during the league season.
“We’re not underestimating KCCA,” co-coach Fred Muhumuza cautioned. “They’re dangerous and have everything to play for. We’ve prepared well. In finals, moments decide games. We must be ready for ours.”
Clash of Ideals, Clash of Legacies
KCCA boast 10 Uganda Cup titles, a joint record they currently share with Express. A win today would not only end their drought but also make them the outright record winners with 11 trophies.
For Vipers, who have won the Cup three times (2016, 2021, 2023), a fourth crown and a second double would solidify their place as the dominant force of the 2020s.
Off the pitch, the fan rivalry has reached a boiling point.
KCCA supporters have rallied under the trending hashtag #KadibaIsYellow, laying claim to the venue. The usually reserved Vipers fans are expected to respond vocally if their team delivers the knockout blow.
The Final Word
With silverware, history, and bragging rights all on the line, tonight’s Uganda Cup final promises a spectacle, a statement, and perhaps, a seismic shift in Ugandan football’s balance of power.
Kick-off is at 6 PM.
