Player transfers are part of football. Fans know it, players know it, and clubs accept it.
But when those moves involve rivals, the pain lingers far longer.
In Ugandan football, no rivalry carries more emotional weight than KCCA FC versus Vipers SC in recent years.
For years, KCCA fans have seen players leave. Some departures sting less, others reopen wounds that refuse to heal.
And when the destination is Kitende, the wound cuts deepest.
Okello’s Departure: The First Big Blow
The first major heartbreak came when Allan Okello left Lugogo for Vipers.
For KCCA faithful, it was a dagger. Yes, “players come and go” is the cliché, but losing that kind of talent to that rival wasn’t easy to swallow.
What made it worse was the one-way traffic, while top players keep leaving Lugogo for Kitende, no player of similar stature has made the reverse journey.
A small consolation came when Mustafa Kizza opted to remain at KCCA, despite an agreement that could have seen him join his friend Okello at Vipers.
Had both crossed to Kitende together, it would have been unbearable.
Usama Arafat: The Next Heartbreak
But solace never lasts long in football. After Okello’s exit, the KCCA faithful found their new darling in Usama Arafat. He quickly became the fans’ favorite, the player they rallied behind in hope and pride.
Now, that bond is set to be tested. With his contract expired, Usama is on the verge of signing for Vipers.
For KCCA, it’s not just about losing a talented player, it’s about losing him to Kitende. And that makes the wound far deeper.
Kakande’s Twist in the Tale
The heartbreak could grow worse. KCCA had hoped to land Patrick Kakande, a fan-favorite profile whose signing would have softened the blow of losing Usama.
But those efforts fell through. Kakande is not part of the four new signings KCCA is preparing to unveil.
Worse still, the talented forward, whose contract with Villa has expired, now looks closer to a move to Kitende than Lugogo.
He was seen at Lugogo during Villa’s 2–1 Super 8 win over KCCA, heading straight into Villa’s dressing room afterward, while Usama was notably absent.
A Rivalry Written in Transfers
From Okello’s painful switch to Usama’s looming exit and Kakande’s possible move, one thing is clear, the transfer rivalry between KCCA and Vipers is as fierce as the battles on the pitch.
For the Kasasiro Boys’ faithful, every player lost to Kitende feels less like business and more like betrayal.
And if Usama seals his deal with Vipers, it won’t just be another transfer, it will be another shove in the hearts of KCCA’s loyal fans.
