By 
Sam Ssimbwa made a winning start to his second spell at URA FC as the Tax Collectors edged UPDF FC 1-0 at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, on Tuesday.
An own goal from veteran defender Denis Sekitoleko in the 62nd minute proved decisive, handing URA only their second victory of the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League campaign.
The result provided the perfect start for Ssimbwa, who returned to the URA dugout after replacing Jimmy Kintu Mwera as head coach.
URA showed plenty of intent from the opening stages, with Nelson Senkatuka testing UPDF goalkeeper Shamulan Kamya with a left-footed effort inside the opening two minutes.
Captain Moses Aliro Okabo then went close in the 19th minute, curling his effort over the bar after getting the better of Samson Kasozi, before Abraham Kakensa Tusubira headed over from Dissan Galiwango’s corner three minutes later.
Godfrey Sekibengo had another opportunity just before the break when he attempted to lift the ball over Kamya, but the two sides went into halftime goalless.
Ssimbwa reacted at the interval with a triple substitution, introducing Isma Mugulusi, Arthur Kiggundu and Moses Waiswa for Senkatuka, Ronald Otti and Tusubira.
The changes eventually paid off.
After Okabo had been denied from close range by Kamya on the hour mark, URA finally broke the deadlock two minutes later.
Mugulusi delivered a dangerous ball from the right and Sekitoleko, attempting to deal with the threat, diverted it into his own net to give the Tax Collectors the lead.
UPDF pushed for a response and made changes of their own, but URA held firm to protect their slender advantage and secure all three points.
The victory lifts URA to seven points from eight matches and 13th place on the table, while UPDF remain 11th with eight points after suffering their third defeat of the campaign.
More importantly for the Tax Collectors, Ssimbwa’s return has begun with three points as he looks to turn around a difficult start to the season and breathe new life into URA’s campaign.
