Part of The-SportsNation editorial team is split on who will be crowned Champions of the 2023/24 Uganda Premier League.

This promises to be a tightly contested season in recent memory but odds are stack on defending champions Vipers and KCCA FC.

SC Villa who threw away the title on last day of the season, Big spenders URA and BUL are also right into the mix.

Here is how our experts predicted:

Baron Kironde – KCCA

In Sergio Daniel, the Kasasiro Boys have got the man they have been looking for since the departure of Mike Mutebi in 2021. The new coach has had enough time with the players to instill in them a particular way he wants them to play and things are falling into place.

Sergio insists the team should build up play from the back, which if mastered well will enable them dominate possession, easily create chances to score goals and win games to gather as many points as possible by the end of the season.

It’s hard to stop a team that’s clicking – the Portuguese tactician appears to have settled in already at Lugogo, while his South American counterpart Leo Neiva is seemingly still figuring out how to make things work at Kitende. Otherwise, Vipers would’ve been a better pick, given the quality of players they have at their disposal.

Brian Kawalya – SC Villa!

Sounds crazy? Yes.

Villa lost the league title last season on the last day. I believe they were hit by success and didn’t have a clue or two on how to deal with a surprise title race they found themselves into then. And lessons have been learnt, hopefully.

All eyes are on Vipers and KCCA because of the better quality in their rosters. Granted, but I believe that winning a league takes more than that. For the first time in many years, Villa will start the season with huge confidence and I believe they will as well fancy their chances of winning the title. They will come with an aim of righting the wrongs from last season that saw the side lose the title on the last day.

There is nothing much that differentiate Ugandan players in terms of ability, and the only trick has to do with motivation which will not be a problem at Villa after that huge Sh2.7bn Linglong Sponsorship.

Yes they might have lost a couple of good players including Gift Fred, but Gavin Kizito’s return is an equally good cover. Their Achilles heel is the striking department which was more hit after thet long term injury suffered by Denis Ojara (also a defender).

An improved front office in that Executive says a lot about their ambitions for a club that is without a doubt the most followed and supported in the country and that huge fan base will be key.

New coach Dusan Stojanovic will need to be given more time and they may struggle to get things going early into the season, but if they can gather momentum and get off to a good start, we might see a real old MONSTROUS Villa back again.

Richard Ssekyanzi – Vipers

Well the Venoms are still the favourite for me to win the league for the third consecutive time.

The early elimination from the CAF champions League is one factor that will push the venoms fight even harder to return where they think they belong.

They did good business in the transfer window save for the Brazilians, and at least kept their best performers of the previous season unlike the past season where they lost Caesar Manzoki, Halid Lwalilwa and Bobosi Byaruhanga.

However I see the Venoms finding stiff competition from KCCA FC who have also done a tremendous job in their preparation.

With no doubt, URA FC is the other team to watch in the title race given their recruitment and motivation around the team as well as Jinja based side BUL FC who already have a title in the super 8.

Record holders SC Villa have a young talented side that is never afraid of competition and will shock many with their performance.

Brian Inke – KCCA

KCCA last won the Uganda Premier League title in the 2018/2019 season under Mike Mutebi. Since then it’s been four seasons without the league gong and I think they will finally end the jinx this season.

They came so close last season but were shy of six goals behind champions Vipers after they were level on 53 points but the Venoms had a superior Goal Difference of 27 compared to KCCA’s 21.

Under Portuguese tactician Sergio Traguil, the Kasasiro boys made their signings early and this will be key as well.

The gaffer has already won hearts of many fans so far and has ticked all the boxes with his possession-based style of play and building from the back.

KCCA has signed players who already look comfortable with Traguil’s tactics and it’s fair to say that his foreign players have not yet disappointed if we go by what they served in the Pre-season.

All eyes will be on foreign players; Adilson Bruno, Joao Gabriel, Vinicius Micheal, Emilson Gonzaga, Cungulo Da Silva and Etienne Katenga to inspire KCCA to the trophy.

John Paul Ntege – Vipers

Vipers will be champions for the third consecutive season. They have maintained most of their key players in Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Bright Anukani, Hillary Mukundane among others.

They have competition everywhere starting in goal with two best goalkeepers in Fabian Mutombora and Alfred Mudekereza. And the additions of Patrick Mbowa, Richard Matovu will be a big addition to the Kitende based side.

Being eliminated out of the CAF Champions League at the early stages will give Vipers more room to turn focus on the League. They have an experienced team unlike their competitors like KCCA, who are now in some sort of transition.

David Onyango – KCCA

There is a lot of optimism since the arrival of Sergio Traguil and the Club has since forgotten last season’s misery that saw them lose the trophy on goal difference, during which three managers Morley Byekwaso, Kadidi Ssenyange and Jackson Mayanja took turns in charge.

They have gone big in the transfer market and yielded a superb combination of thrilling attacking football and fierce organisation under their new manager.

The signing of Cungulo Gui, Joel Serujongi and Ettiene Katenga beefs up what looks like an outstanding addition in midfield while academy graduate Abubaker Mayanja could prove another top-class addition to the KCCA squad.

That’s all in addition to the last season’s quality in Moses Waiswa, Usama Arafat, Said Mayanja and others. I believe they will be hard to stop.

Abbey Kitaka – URA FC

I am going for a wild one. I have been impressed with the URA FC’s transfer business and I believe it will pay off. Sharif Kimbowa, Laban Tibita, Moses Aliro, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, Denis Otim and Enock Walusimbi among others look perfect fits.

The death of Coach Sam Timbe was a huge blow and my big worry is the fact that Fred Muhumuza might not be yet ready to be the head coach for an ambitious team despite the fact that he is a good tactician, and how fast they can sort this will determine their ceiling.

They last won the title in 2010/11 season but have been knocking on the doors since, and have been tagged as Contenders for the last three seasons or so.

This club is well funded and have no excuses for not delivering league silverware this time round.

	Top 4	Relegation	MVP	Top-scorer	Best Youngster
Baron Kironde	KCCA Vipers URA BUL	Gaddafi UPDF Busoga United	Arafat Usama (KCCA)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Marvin Nyanzi (Wakiso Giants)
Brian Kawalya	SC Villa Vipers KCCA URA	Busoga United Bright Stars UPDF	Kenneth Ssemakula (Villa)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Anthony Emojong (KCCA)
Brian Inke	KCCA URA Vipers BUL	Mbarara City Gaddafi Busoga United	Moses Aliro (URA)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Saidi Mayanja (KCCA)
Richard Ssekyanzi	Vipers KCCA URA BUL	Busoga United Gaddafi UPDF	Laban Tibita (URA)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Abubakar Mayanja (KCCA)
JP Ntege	Vipers KCCA URA BUL	Busoga United Gaddafi Arua Hill	Milton Karisa (Vipers)	Ivan Ahimbisibwe (URA)	Laban Tibita (URA)
David Onyango	KCCA Vipers BUL SC Villa	Express Busoga United UPDF	Saidi Mayanja (KCCA)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Abubakar Mayanja (KCCA)
Abel Kitaka	URA KCCA Vipers Villa	Gaddafi Mbarara City NEC	Enock Walusimbi (URA)	Yunus Sentamu (Vipers)	Laban Tibita (URA)