Having lived in Uganda now for over two years, it’s criminal that it’s taken this long for me to tick a Ugandan soccer ground off my bucket list!
But when I found out that Vipers SC were hosting a CAF Champions League fixture in February 2023, I jumped at the chance to visit St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende for the visit of Guinean team, Horoya.
Here, I share my experience of watching live soccer in Uganda and tell you everything you need to know if you want to watch Vipers this season or in the near future!
Introducing Vipers SC
Uganda is an interesting country as far as soccer is concerned, as most of the teams that compete in the national Premier League are based in and around Kampala.
Vipers SC are the current champions of the Ugandan Premier League and their ground is located in Kitende, on the outskirts of Kampala, as you make your way to Entebbe Airport.
The club was founded in 1969 and initially played under the name of Bunamwaya FC and they have been a permanent fixture in the StarTimes Ugandan Premier League since 2006.
They became Vipers SC in a re-brand in 2012 and their stadium at Kitende was completely refurbished in 2018, which now has a capacity of 25,000. It also has an artificial playing surface and is regarded as one of the best soccer fields in the whole of Uganda.
All told, Vipers have won the Ugandan Premier League on five occasions (all coming between 2010 and 2022), and they’re undoubtedly one of the most prominent teams in the country.
The match in question: Vipers SC v Horoya AC
I’ll be honest; I didn’t know a great deal about either team before heading to St Mary’s Stadium last week, even though I had been planning to watch Vipers for a while now!
Their opponents in this Champions League tie – Horoya AC – are based in Conakry, Guinea. It’s fair to regard them as prolific champions, as they have won the league in their country evcery season since 2011 – eleven championships on the bounce!
In spite of their imperious domestic success, their recent record in the CAF Champions League hasn’t been particularly impressive. In 12 appearances, they’ve only made it to the quarter finals once, and they typically head out in the group stages.
So, on paper at least, Vipers & Horoya are two of the most unfancied teams in the tournament, so I really didn’t know what to expect when I rocked up to the stadium for the match!
The game ended 0-0 and I’m sorry to say that it was a boring affair with very few shots and little in the way of goalmouth action. Vipers were reduced to ten men towards the end of the match for an ugly challenge, but that was about it!
Still, I had an amazing day and I want to focus on what it’s actually like to watch a soccer match in Uganda, as it’s something that I can’t recommend highly enough for the reasons I explain below.
What’s it like watching live soccer in Uganda?
We’ve all been to 0-0 games that we regret attending, but I loved every minute of my experience at Vipers SC v Horoya AC. Why? Well, for the following reasons:
The price
I paid 50,000 Ugandan Shillings for a “VIP” ticket to watch this CAF Champions League encounter, which is roughly $13 for the best seat in the house. You could also buy a ticket for 20,000 Ugandan Shillings to sit either side of the VIP section, just $5.
Granted, the match wasn’t great, but given the exorbitant cost of soccer in Europe (you pay more like $100 per ticket for a UEFA Champions League match) I couldn’t have been happier with the arrangement!
I also purchased a Vipers SC jersey for just 50,000 Shillings ($13), which struck me as incredible value for money for real merchandise from the club.
The fans
As a guy who has grown up with British soccer, I can say that the atmosphere at Vipers was much more carnival like, and there wasn’t a huge amount of expectation. I spoke to loads of fans on the day and found them to be genuinely enthusiastic about the match and just delighted to be competing at such a high level.
I found it refreshing to share a few beers with the Vipers supporters before the match and at half time, and the atmosphere featured the standard vuvuzelas that have been a fixture at many African soccer matches since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The refreshments
I have to say I indulged in some delicious refreshments before and during the match. I sunk a few cold beers before the match (5,000 Ugandan shillings – $1.30) and enjoyed a delicious freshly roasted quarter of chicken as my half-time meal (10,000 Ugandan Shillings – $2.60).
This certainly beats a lukewarm pie and Bovril at the overpriced soccer grounds in the UK and I would have spent the entire match in the hospitality tent if I had known that the soccer on the field would have been devoid of action!
Something I really liked about the stadium is that you can drink alcohol at your seats, which isn’t permitted in the UK. I sipped a few beers during the second half of Vipers v Horoya, which is something I really think the authorities should reintroduce in domestic soccer in the UK.
The verdict: Live soccer in Uganda – worth it?
When it comes to watching live soccer in Uganda, I can’t speak highly enough of my experience at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. I am now a Vipers fan and can’t wait for my next visit to the stadium on the outskirts of Kampala.
The match offered great value for money, cold beer, great food, and a decent atmoshphere. It was just a shame that the soccer on the field ended 0-0 – but it was a high stakes game in the Champions League, so both teams can be forgiven for playing it cautiously!
Overall, if you’re keen to watch live soccer in Uganda during an upcoming vacation in this beautiful country, I would highly recommend a trip to Kitende, Kampala, to watch my new team Vipers SC!