Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC have officially committed to competing in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, reaffirming their place among the region’s elite clubs ahead of next season’s continental assignments.
The prestigious East and Central African club championship will be staged in Kigali, Rwanda, running from July 18 to August 9, bringing together some of the strongest teams from across the CECAFA zone.
Vipers confirmed their participation after accepting an invitation from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), with club Chief Executive Officer Simon Peter Njuba expressing gratitude to the organizers.
“Vipers Sports Club hereby formally confirms its participation in the tournament. We thank CECAFA for the invitation and the support extended to the club, and we look forward to taking part in the competition,” added Njuba.
The competition is widely regarded as a key warm-up event for clubs preparing to represent their countries in CAF interclub competitions. According to CECAFA Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi, the tournament continues to play a significant role in sharpening teams before the start of continental campaigns.
“We have organized this competition in the past years and it has greatly helped teams prepare well. Last year we had Sudan’s Al Hilal reach the quarter-final stage of the CAF Champions League after they also finished third in the CECAFA Kagame Cup held in Tanzania,” explained Mossi.
Several heavyweight clubs from the region are expected to grace the tournament, including Rwanda’s APR FC and Rayon Sports, Kenya’s Gor Mahia, Tanzanian powerhouses Young Africans SC and Simba SC, South Sudan’s El Merriekh SC Bentiu, as well as Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC and El Merriekh SC.
Champions from Ethiopia and Somalia are also anticipated to take part, while organizers are expected to extend an invitation to a guest club from another African football region.
The previous edition of the tournament was won by Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars FC, who lifted the trophy after overcoming APR FC in the final, further underlining the growing competitiveness of the regional championship.
