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Vipers SC were the biggest winners at the 2025/26 StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) Awards held on Friday evening at Kati Kati Grounds, sweeping major individual and team honours after a dominant campaign.
Midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala was crowned Most Valuable Player after an outstanding season in which he scored 12 goals and provided four assists. He beat SC Villa’s duo Frank Ssebuufu and Raymond Barasa Mangoli, KCCA FC striker Ivan Ahimbisibwe, and Entebbe UPPC FC’s Ambrose Kigozi to claim the top individual prize.
The Venoms also saw their head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert named Coach of the Season after guiding the club to their eighth league title with 67 points, finishing five ahead of KCCA FC. Minnaert beat NEC FC’s Badru Kaddu, BUL FC’s Abdallah Mubiru, and SC Villa’s Zeljko Kovacevic to the accolade.
Ivan Minnaert gets his SUPL Coach of the Season Award
Despite a rare off-field setback—after being penalised for failing to honour their opening day fixture against Kitara FC—Vipers remained unbeaten on the pitch throughout the season, recovering strongly to dominate the title race.
Defender Rogers Torach added to the club’s success by winning Goal of the Season for his spectacular long-range strike against Lugazi FC on March 3 in a 3-0 win at Kitende. He beat a shortlist that included Hassan Mubiru, Alex Yiga, Robin Kane, Watambala, and Charles Lwanga.
KCCA FC striker Ivan Ahimbisibwe claimed the Golden Boot after finishing as the league’s top scorer with 14 goals, while NEC FC goalkeeper Hannington Sebwalunyo won the Golden Glove after an impressive season between the posts.
The Young Player of the Season award went to promising talent Lubwana Enrique, who impressed with his breakthrough performances across the campaign.
Vipers’ dominance was further reflected in the official Team of the Season, which featured several of their players alongside standout performers from across the league.
NEC FC goalkeeper Hannington Sebwalunyo was also named Best Goalkeeper and included in the Team of the Season after keeping 16 clean sheets and even scoring two decisive goals against Mbarara City FC and URA FC.
The defensive line included Jonathan Odong (Entebbe UPPC FC) at right-back, KCCA FC’s Herbert Achayi at left-back, and a central pairing of Vipers’ Hilary Mukundane and Kevin Dasylva, who helped the champions concede the joint-fewest goals in the league.
In midfield, Entebbe UPPC FC’s Issa Bugembe and NEC FC’s Joseph Sseremba joined Watambala in the season’s best XI.
Up front, SC Villa’s Hassan Mubiru completed the Team of the Season after a strong individual campaign.
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