Mbarara City FC head into Tuesday night’s Uganda Premier League clash against Vipers SC engulfed in uncertainty, with the Ankole Lions reportedly struggling to assemble a full squad ahead of the daunting trip to St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
According to reliable sources within the club, player attendance at training has been sporadic since Christmas. By Sunday, only eight players were present in camp, raising serious concerns about match readiness.
The situation is understood to be linked to ongoing financial constraints, with club leadership reportedly preoccupied by Uganda’s current political season, leaving football operations stretched and unsettled.
The timing could hardly be worse. Mbarara City sit 13th on the table with 10 points from 11 matches and were hoping to build momentum after a morale-boosting 1–0 win over URA FC before the league pause, Henry Kitegenyi scoring the decisive goal. Instead, instability off the pitch now threatens to derail any progress.
In stark contrast, Vipers SC return to league action focused and formidable. The Venoms are unbeaten this season, boasting seven wins and three draws from 10 matches. That run places them second on 24 points, just one behind leaders KCCA FC, who have played a game more. A win on Tuesday would further fuel Vipers’ title charge and pile pressure on the summit.
Vipers also ended the break in strong fashion, grinding out a 2–1 away victory against Lugazi FC through goals from Usama Arafat and Yunus Sentamu. Historically, the Kitende side have dominated this fixture, winning 10 of the last 17 meetings and completing a league double over Mbarara City last season.
As kickoff approaches under the Kitende floodlights, the contrast is striking. Vipers are chasing momentum, consistency and silverware. Mbarara City, meanwhile, arrive bruised by internal challenges, hoping to survive a stern test despite turmoil behind the scenes.
