We’re only six match days into the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League (UPL), and already the touchline drama has kicked off.
Hussein Mbalangu’s suspension by NEC FC was the first warning shot – the inevitable start of what looks like another season of managerial shake-ups.
In football, when results dry up or dressing rooms lose harmony, the man in the dugout is always the first casualty.
And sure enough, NEC pulled the trigger. On Wednesday evening, the Diehards turned Mbalangu’s suspension into a full-blown dismissal, bringing an end to his two-year spell at the club. But what followed was even more eye-catching.
Within hours, NEC raided Express FC, prying away Badru Kaddu to fill the vacancy – a bold and unexpected move that sent ripples through the league.
So as Mbalangu exits NEC, Kaddu switches camps, leaving Express stranded without a head coach just when they seemed to be regaining their footing on the pitch.
For the Red Eagles, the timing couldn’t be worse – the team was beginning to show signs of stability, even as off-pitch financial and administrative issues continued to bite.
It’s hard for any club to keep hold of strong managerial talent when resources are thin. When the money dries up, so does the patience – and ultimately, the performances.
For now, the shake-up involves NEC and Express, but anyone who follows the UPL knows how quickly the dominoes can fall.
Mbarara City FC, UPDF FC, and Calvary FC are all hovering dangerously in the relegation zone, and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of them makes a change before Christmas.
Meanwhile, defending champions Vipers SC opened their campaign with a tight 1–0 win over Entebbe UPPC FC, but the spotlight is firmly on head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert.
The Belgian tactician has yet to fully convince the Vipers faithful, especially after failing to guide the Venoms to the CAF Champions League group stages – the very benchmark he was hired to meet.
For Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, patience might wear thin if results dip. And with assistants John Ayala Luyinda and Fred Muhumuza – both part of the domestic double-winning setup – already in the background, the next move might be an easy one should things go south.
In football, management is a high-risk game. Today it’s Mbalangu and Kaddu.
Tomorrow it could be Minnaert, or anyone else. The UPL managerial merry-go-round is officially in motion – and it’s only matchday six.
