Friday, September 4, 2026 | Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo | 8pm
URA FC face a stern test of their promising start to the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League season when they welcome record champions SC Villa to Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Friday night.
The Tax Collectors opened their campaign in impressive fashion, recovering from a goal down to beat Maroons 2-1 at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.
The victory also offered a positive beginning to life under new head coach Jimmy Kintu Mwera.
SC Villa, meanwhile, will be seeking to turn their first point of the season into a stronger performance after surrendering an early advantage in a 1-1 draw with Kitara on their return to Wankulukuku.
For URA midfielder Joshua Lubwama, playing on home soil presents an opportunity to collect maximum points, despite Villa’s recent dominance in this fixture.
“We have prepared well and playing at home, we need maximum points and we shall go for that,” said Lubwama.
The midfielder believes the character displayed in the comeback against Maroons has given the Tax Collectors confidence ahead of another demanding encounter.
“The technical staff has prepared us well and that showed in that comeback win against Maroons as we showed great mentality,” he added.
Villa hold the upper hand
URA’s biggest challenge, however, lies in their recent struggles against the Jogoos.
The Tax Collectors have not beaten Villa since their dramatic 1-0 victory on the final day of the 2022/23 season, a result that denied Villa a record-extending 17th league title before they eventually reclaimed the championship the following campaign.
Since then, Villa have gone eight matches unbeaten against URA in all competitions, winning four and drawing four.
The recent history at Nakivubo offers URA little comfort either.
Four of the last five meetings hosted by the Tax Collectors have ended in stalemates, with Villa’s only victory coming in last season’s Uganda Cup, when the Jogoos won 2-0.
Firepower against a new-look defence
URA will look to Moses Waiswa, Lubwama, Abraham Tusubira, Nelson Ssenkatuka and promising youngster Marvin Nyanzi to unlock a Villa defence led by new captain Arnold Odong.
Villa, on the other hand, will expect Patrick Kakande to carry his impressive form from the Kitara encounter, while Frank Ssebuufu and Reagan Mpande will provide the attacking threat.
Mpande will be eager to make amends after missing a good opportunity to extend Villa’s lead against Kitara in their opening fixture.
With URA chasing a second successive victory and Villa determined to extend their unbeaten sequence against the Tax Collectors, Friday’s encounter carries plenty of intrigue.
Who takes the big day home?
