The ghosts of Namboole still haunt SC Villa.
Once again, the Jogoos fell short against their eternal rivals KCCA FC, losing 2–1 in a Kampala Derby that had all the emotion, except the fans.
As if it was played behind closed gates at the Mandela National Stadium, the match unfolded in eerie silence, a far cry from the electric atmosphere that usually lights up this historic fixture.
It was the Kasasiro Boys who struck first, their new signing Ivan Ahimbisibwe announcing his arrival in style with a 31st-minute finish that put KCCA in control heading into halftime.
Villa clawed their way back into the game through Najib Yiga, who found the equalizer just after the hour mark, sparking brief hope among the Jogoos faithful following online.
But in classic derby fashion, heartbreak came late.
Former Villa player Umar Lutalo, now in KCCA colors, curled home a sublime free kick at the death to seal all three points and twist the knife deeper into his old side.
For Villa, it was déjà vu. The result mirrors last year’s 2–0 defeat to KCCA in the first-ever Namboole doubleheader, a reminder that the record UPL champions still can’t buy a break in this new format.
Yet, this wasn’t just another loss. The story off the pitch was even louder than what happened on it.
This year’s doubleheader weekend was marred by controversy and boycott.
Fans stayed away, protesting FUFA’s new Uganda Premier League format, leaving the stands at Namboole hauntingly empty.
To add to the chaos, Vipers SC, the defending champions, refused to honor their fixture against Kitara FC, citing ongoing disputes with the federation.
In one of the strangest scenes Ugandan football has witnessed, Kitara went through the motions, lining up, kicking off, and even playing for 30 minutes without an opponent, before walking off the pitch.
Later, as the cameras rolled for the second game, Villa, who only confirmed their participation two days earlier and declared they were playing “under protest and duress”, took to the field.
But when the final whistle blew, it was KCCA celebrating again, with Villa left to wonder when their doubleheader misfortunes will finally end.
In the end, there were no fans, no atmosphere, just another bitter chapter in Villa’s Namboole story.
