SC Villa Beat Mbarara City 2-0 to Go Second in Uganda Premier League

SC Villa moved up to second in the Uganda Premier League on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Mbarara City at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku. Goals from Frank Ssebuufu and Najib Yiga kept the record champions unbeaten after seven matches, two points behind leaders BUL FC.

It followed a 6-1 thrashing of Police FC the previous week, and it confirms the Jogoos as one of the teams to watch in a 2026/27 title race that already looks more open than the last two seasons.

How SC Villa beat Mbarara City

Villa struck early and late. Ssebuufu opened the scoring in the first half. Kawowo Sports put the goal in the 10th minute, while GhanaSoccernet's match report has it in the 12th. Either way, Villa led inside the opening quarter of an hour.

For long spells that single goal was the only thing separating the sides. Mbarara City came into the round in the bottom half of the table, and they kept the contest alive until the closing stages.

Yiga finally made the points safe five minutes from time. According to Kawowo Sports, he had come on at the start of the second half, which made the substitution a decisive one.

This was a different kind of win from the previous week's goal rush. Villa did not need to overwhelm Mbarara; they needed to manage the game, and a clean sheet on top of three points is the kind of result title challengers have to collect regularly.

Uganda Premier League table after matchday seven

Standings published on the official Uganda Premier League website and on TheFishy, which agree at the top, show how tight the leading pack has become:

1. BUL FC – 19 points from 7 games (six wins, one draw, still unbeaten).

2. SC Villa – 17 points from 7 games (five wins, two draws, unbeaten), with the best goal difference in the league at +13.

3. NEC FC – 14 points from 7 games.

4. Entebbe UPPC – 14 points from 7 games, after a 1-0 win away to Kigezi HomeBoyz on Thursday.

Defending champions Vipers SC have 10 points but have played only five matches, so their position flatters nobody and hides games in hand. At the other end, Kigezi HomeBoyz are bottom with a single point.

One note of caution: the published tables had not yet absorbed every Thursday result for clubs lower down, so positions in the middle and bottom half may shift slightly once they are fully updated. The top four, however, are consistent across sources.

From 6-1 at Kira Road to an unbeaten start

Villa's confidence comes partly from what happened eight days earlier. On Wednesday, 14 October, they thrashed Police FC 6-1 at the Kira Road Police Arena, a result reported by both New Vision and the Daily Monitor.

Ibrahim Kasinde opened the scoring early from a John Asiimwe corner, and Asiimwe added the second soon after. Ssebuufu made it three before half-time, Patrick Kakande scored shortly after the restart, Ssebuufu added his second and Jonathan Sausa completed the rout late on. Bedia Ikamba scored Police's consolation.

That win took Villa to 14 points from six matches and to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of NEC. BUL, who were a point behind with a game in hand at that stage, have since moved past them, but Villa's goal difference of +13 is a sign of how dominant they have been when they get on top of matches.

Ssebuufu leads a spread of Villa scorers

Ssebuufu has now scored three league goals in Villa's last two matches, and he is the obvious form player in the side. Just as important for coaches is how widely the goals are shared.

Across the Police and Mbarara City wins, six different Villa players found the net: Kasinde, Asiimwe, Ssebuufu, Kakande, Sausa and Yiga. A team that does not rely on one finisher is harder to plan against, and it gives the technical team options when injuries or suspensions arrive later in a long 34-match season.

The contrast with the Mbarara game is also useful. Against Police, Villa were ruthless in open play. Against Mbarara, they were patient and then decisive from the bench. Being able to win in both ways is usually what separates genuine contenders from teams on a good run.

Can the Jogoos end Vipers' grip on the title?

SC Villa are the most successful club in Ugandan league history with 17 titles, the most recent in 2023/24. Vipers SC answered by winning the next two championships, sealing their eighth title in May 2026.

This season the picture is less clear. BUL are setting the pace, NEC and Entebbe UPPC are within touching distance, and Vipers have games in hand that could quickly lift them into the top four. With the league now contested by 18 clubs, there is a long way to go.

For Kenyan fans used to the Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards story, Villa's position will feel familiar: a club with a huge following and a long list of honours, judged every season against its own history. Seven unbeaten matches are a strong start, but the test will be whether they can keep collecting the narrow wins, like Thursday's, once the fixtures get tougher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score in SC Villa vs Mbarara City?

SC Villa beat Mbarara City 2-0 on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku. Frank Ssebuufu scored in the first half and Najib Yiga added the second five minutes from time.

Who is top of the Uganda Premier League in 2026/27?

After seven matchdays, BUL FC lead with 19 points from seven unbeaten games. SC Villa are second on 17 points, with NEC FC and Entebbe UPPC level on 14.

How many Uganda Premier League titles have SC Villa won?

SC Villa have won 17 league titles, more than any other Ugandan club. Their most recent championship came in the 2023/24 season.

How many teams are in the Uganda Premier League?

The Uganda Premier League is contested by 18 clubs from the 2026/27 season. Vipers SC are the defending champions after winning their eighth title in 2025/26.

SC Villa's 2-0 win over Mbarara City keeps them unbeaten and two points off the top of the Uganda Premier League. Scorer254 will keep following the Ugandan title race alongside our coverage of Kenyan and East African football.