The FUFA Big League 2024/25 season has wrapped up with thrilling drama, historic achievements, and a new rivalry brewing in the Uganda Premier League (UPL).
After months of competition, three teams, Calvary FC, Gaddafi FC (UPPC), and Buhimba United Saints FC, have secured promotion to the top tier, setting the stage for a reshaped UPL lineup.
Promotion Race Goes Down to the Wire
The final matchday saw five teams still in the race for promotion, a reflection of how fiercely competitive this season has been.
Calvary emerged as champions after a decisive 1-0 victory over Paidha Black Angels in Yumbe, finishing on 52 points.
Gaddafi (UPPC) claimed second spot with 50 points, edging Buhimba United Saints on head-to-head.
Buhimba, in their maiden Big League campaign, finished third, earning a sensational back-to-back promotion, having just come up from the Regional League this same season.
Buhimba’s Meteoric Rise Creates a New UPL Rivalry
Buhimba United’s fairytale run brings fresh energy to the top flight and sets up a historic fixture: the Kitara Derby, regional clash between Buhimba and Kitara, both from Hoima District in the Bunyoro Sub-region.
Kitara, promoted to the UPL for a second time in 2023/24, have now established themselves as a stable Premier League club.
Buhimba’s promotion now adds fuel to what is poised to become one of Uganda’s most compelling football rivalries.
A Tale of Two Clubs from One Region
Despite their shared roots, the two sides offer distinct identities:
Kitara, known as “The Royals”, play at Royal Park in Butema, Hoima, and proudly carry the slogan “The Pride of Bunyoro.”
Buhimba United Saints, who host matches at Kigaaya Playground in Kikube, go by the nickname “The Bunyoro Saints.”
Interestingly, Mark Twinamatisko, Buhimba’s current head coach, also guided Kitara to their first-ever UPL promotion in 2020, making this derby even more intriguing.
Depending on who you ask, this much-anticipated fixture could be dubbed the Kitara Derby, Hoima Derby, or Bunyoro Derby, but one thing is certain: it’s going to be fireworks.
Bunyoro’s UPL Legacy Grows
The arrival of Buhimba and the rise of Kitara add to Bunyoro’s growing presence in Ugandan top-flight football.
Historically, the only other club from the region to play in the UPL was Kinyara Sugar FC from Masindi, now defunct, but trailblazers in their own right.
With two active UPL clubs now representing Bunyoro, the region is set to become a stronghold of Ugandan football culture, fan passion, and talent development.
Relegation: A Steep Fall for Some
While promotion brought joy to three clubs, the season ended in disappointment for others:
Arua Hill SC and Busoga United FC, both relegated from the UPL in 2023/24, have now dropped even further to the Regional League.
Former UPL side MYDA FC and Booma FC (another Kitara Region club) have also been relegated from the Big League.
As the UPL gears up for the 2025/26 season, eyes will be on the debut of the Kitara Derby and how the newly promoted clubs adjust to top-tier football.
Can Buhimba continue their miracle run? Will Kitara defend their territory? Football fans across Uganda, and especially in Bunyoro, can’t wait to find out.
