UPL Wrap-up: Matchday 1 Winners & Losers

UPL Results | Friday, September 26, 2026

Lugazi 3-1 Calvary
UPPC 0-1 Buhimba
Express 1-0 UPDF
Kitara 1-1 KCCA
Police 1-1 Mbarara City
BUL 0-0 URA

The new format Uganda Premier League (UPL) finally kicked off on Friday, September 26, 2025 with 12 teams in action in six matches staged at six different venues across the country.

On the opening day, ten goals were scored as three teams won, three lost and six sides settled for a point each.

Lugazi emerged the biggest winners of the day, recording a 3-1 win over new entrants Calvary. Buhimba United Saints and Express also picked slim wins against UPPC and UPDF respectively.

KCCA forced a one-all draw with Kitara, as Mbarara City also fought back to draw 1-1 with Police, while BUL and URA played out a goalless draw.

Four teams, Vipers and NEC with continental engagements plus SC Villa and Maroons were not in action on the opening day.

How It Unfolded

Lugazi 3-1 Calvary

Lugazi had the perfect start to their 2025/26 UPL campaign, but not a perfect start to their first game, as they needed to fight back from a goal down to beat newcomers Calvary at home.

Lugazi conceded an early goal, Simon Peter Odeke scored first to put the visitors ahead, but Paul Wasswa scored just a few moments later, drawing the game level in the 18th minute.

In the 29th minute, Sharif Saaka scored to put the home side ahead, before debutant Ashiraf Mulindi scored scored Lugazi’s third to seal such a big opening victory at home.

UPPC 0-1 Buhimba

A newly assembled UPPC side recieved a harsh welcome back to the top division — subjected to a loss at their own backyard, in the hands of new entrants Buhimba United Saints.

John Wesley Kisakye scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute of the game to help Buhimba win 1-0 at UPPC’s Bugonga Fisheries Ground.

Express 1-0 UPDF

Express had a perfect start to their 2025/26 UPL campaign, picking maximum points and keeping a clean-sheet at home against army side UPDF.

New signing Herbert Asiimwe scored Express’ only goal of the game in the 14th minute, and the Red Eagles managed to defend that 1-0 scoreline until full-time.

Kitara 1-1 KCCA

KCCA, playing without eight key first team players needed a late equalizer to pick a precious point away from home, against Kitara in Hoima.

Former KCCA midfielder Emmanuel Wasswa scored for Kitara in the 4th minute, before Sharif Ssengendo equalized for the visitors in the 79th minute. The game ended 1-1.

Etienne Katenga, Joao Gabriel, Rogers Mugisha, Umar Lutalo, Lazaro Muhindo, Yian Gatbel, Anthony Emojong and Derrick Nsibambi were all (for different reasons) out of action for KCCA.

Police 1-1 Mbarara City

At the Kiira road Police Arena, points were shared between hosts Police and the visitors Mbarara City, but it’s the Cops who scored first, in the 26th minute. Jjemba Abud Shakur broke the deadlock with a fine tap-in off Stephen Namaisi’s snake-sized assist down the right.

After scoring, the Cops got seemingly too comfortable against the Ankole lions who looked rather harmless for the most part of the game.

Police had defended well throughout the game, but one moment they lost concentration and miscommunicated, they were punished heavily.

Former Police defender Reagan Matege, who was unmarked in the box rose highest to head-in from a short corner taken quickly, drawing the game level in the 76th minute, and that was it for the game to end all-square.

BUL 0-0 URA

BUL and URA shared points at the FUFA Technical Center in Njeru. It was the only match on day one that didn’t produce any goals as the Eastern Giants and the Tax Collectors approached the game with quite similar defensive tactics — a fair result for two sides with equal might.