As the 2023/24 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season takes another twist, the race to finish top of the table has become even tighter, with just 13 points separating number one (BUL 39) from number nine (KCCA 26) on the 16-team table.
Another interesting bit of the campaign is the race for the UPL golden boot. While last season’s winner Allan Kayiwa needed only 13 goals to take the award home, this season is a whole different story.
With ten more games to go before the end of the season, two consistent strikers, Nelson Ssenkatuuka and Muhammad Shaban are already tied up on eleven goals, while Dennis Omedi and Isaac Wagoina are also chasing closely with ten goals each.
We can only sit back and expect many more goals. All that sums it all up, and explains why there have been over 350 goal scored already, by over 130 different scorers!
List Of UPL’s Current Top 10 Scorers;
- Nelson Ssenkatuuka – 11 (Bright Stars)
The Bright Stars top scorer is also joint-leading the UPL scorers’ chart with eleven goals. He scored a brace against Arua Hill, and a goal each against URA, Mbarara City, Busoga United, Gaddafi, Villa, UPDF, Kitara and Wakiso Giants. Ssenkatuuka’s goals have contributed to Bright Stars’ fair 11th position on the 16-team table, having gathered 23 points from 19 games now.
- Muhammad Shaban – 11 (KCCA)
KCCA struggled alot at the start of the season, but it’s more than a coincidence that the Kasasiro Boys resurgence has come along with the sharp shooter’s good form – the more Shaban scores, the more games KCCA win, and vice versa.
The ‘Rainmaker’ is Joint top scorer with eleven goals, same as Ssenkatuuka. Shaban has so far scored braces each against Vipers, Gaddafi and NEC, plus a goal each against Express home and away, and a goal each against Maroons, Bright Stars, URA and UPDF. After 19 games, KCCA have moved from the relegation zone to nineth with 26 points.
- Dennis Omedi – 10 (Kitara)
Newly promoted Kitara sit top of the UPL table with 39 points from 19 games, and without a doubt, the Lango Province striker’s ten goals have played a very big part in seeing the Royals dominate the league. Omedi was the Big League top scorer last season. This season in the top division, he has so far scored against both KCCA and Wakiso Giants home and away, one each against Villa, BUL and Arua Hill, plus a hatrick against UPDF.
- Isaac Wagoina – 10 (Express)
The former Busoga United striker is Express’ most significant signing this season, or atleast his numbers at the Wankulukuku-based club prove so. Wagoina’s ten league goals have come twice against NEC, a goal each against KCCA in the first and second rounds respectively, plus one each against URA, Villa, Vipers, Gaddafi, Bright Stars and UPDF – propelling the Red Eagles to eighth position on the table, with 29 points from 19 games.
- Fred Amaku – 9 (Maroons)
It might be head-turning to realise that after gathering 30 points from 19 games, Maroons, in sixth position are ahead of KCCA, Express and URA, but it’s not in any way surprising that Fred Amaku is amongst the first five league top scorers with nine goals so far. Amaku scored a brace a against KCCA, and a goal home and away against Villa, plus goals against Kitara, Mbarara City, Vipers, Gaddafi and UPDF. The Prison Warders’ obvious top scorer.
- Alex Kitata – 8 (BUL)
Kitata hasn’t been at his best in the second round so far, but his eight league goals a re still a big reason why BUL are title contenders upto this time of the season. The striker bagged braces against Maroons and Kitara, and scored a goal each against URA, Arua Hill, Wakiso Giants and Busoga. BUL (38) are just one point below table leaders Kitara, having also played a game less than the Royals.
- Cromwell Rwothomio – 7 (NEC)
Joining newly promoted UPL side NEC from defending champions Vipers didn’t look like a very wise idea at first, but might turn out to be Rwothomio’s best decision this season, as he got to work with coach Hussein Mbalangu and Dudu Bosco who both have so much trust in him and his abilities. The striker has so far scored seven league goals; one against his former paymasters Vipers, one each against UPDF in the first and second rounds respectively, a brace against KCCA, plus a goal each against URA and Express. The ‘Die Hards’ now comfortably sit fourth on the table, with 31 points from 19 games.
- Henry Kitegenyi – 6 (Mbarara City)
The Ankole Lions are 10th on the table with 23 points from 18 games, and their lead striker Henry Kitegenyi is amongst the top eight goal-scorers in the league. Kitegenyi scored a brace against Express,and a goal each against Arua Hill, KCCA, UPDF, Wakiso Giants and Express.
- Patrick Kakande – 6 (SC Villa)
The youngster has continued to prove himself as one of the most influential players for the Jogoos this season. SC Villa’s 30 points from 17 games put them in fifth position on the table, and Kakande’s six goals have contributed immensely to that cause. Kakande got a brace against UPDF and Maroons respectively, plus a goal each against Express and Kitara.
- Ashraf Mugume – 6 (KCCA)
The midfielder is KCCA’s second top scorer in the league, after Muhammad Shaban. Mugume scored against Mbarara City, Villa, UPDF, Wakiso Giants, Express and NEC to help KCCA gather some important points that have seen the Kasasiro Boys move from the red zone to nineth with 26 points.
