SC Villa Opts Out of Namboole

SC Villa has confirmed that they will return to Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, for the upcoming Uganda Premier League season.

The Jogoos had initially planned to relocate to the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, but have reversed that decision.

“We shall host all our home games of the domestic competitions (UPL and Uganda Cup) at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku. We apologize for any inconveniences caused,” read an official statement from the club’s management.

This marks the third consecutive season that SC Villa will call Wankulukuku home.

Last season, the historic ground witnessed Villa clinch the Uganda Premier League title, a significant achievement for the club.

Express FC, with whom Villa shared Wankulukuku, has since relocated to the newly renovated Nakivubo Stadium, now leaving Villa as the sole occupants.

SC Villa’s brief stint at Namboole was marked by controversy, particularly during their CAF Champions League qualifier against Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) FC.

The buildup to the match was chaotic, with the UPDF’s Engineer Afande Kidemuka initially declaring that the game could not take place at Namboole due to ongoing renovations.

However, after an intense meeting involving State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, the club was eventually cleared to host the match at the venue.

Despite hosting the game at Namboole, Villa struggled with a low turnout, charging Sh50,000 for entry.

This, has raised questions about whether these factors influenced Villa’s decision to return to Wankulukuku before the season’s kickoff.

Some sources within the club suggest that the move was driven by financial considerations, with Wankulukuku offering a more cost-effective option compared to Namboole.