Vipers SC embark on the defence of their Uganda Premier League crown on Friday with their sights already fixed on another piece of history, a ninth league title.
The champions get their campaign underway at St Maryโs Stadium, Kitende, where they welcome newly promoted Entebbe UPPC FC in a fixture that offers Denis Lavagneโs charges an immediate opportunity to lay down a marker.
Having already lifted the FUFA Super Cup, Vipers head into the new season with confidence, but Lavagne is refusing to allow the early success to soften his demands. For the Frenchman, the opening fixture is the first building block in a season defined by two major objectives: retaining domestic supremacy and making a strong impression in the CAF Champions League.
Seven weeks of preparation have, in his assessment, left the squad primed for competitive football.
โItโs a good time to start the league now, after working for seven weeks,โ Lavagne said to the media.
The victory over Kitara FC in the Super Cup has further strengthened his belief that the team is developing in the right direction.
โWe have found a good dynamic, and we won the Super Cup, which is a good thing and a way to start the league. We have to start with a win because itโs important for the team to finish first.โ
Vipers’ pursuit of a ninth championship will come with the familiar burden of expectation. Having established themselves as Uganda’s benchmark in recent seasons, anything short of another serious title challenge would represent a significant departure from the standards they have set.
Lavagne wants those standards reflected from the very first whistle.
The Super Cup offered an encouraging template, with Vipers combining defensive solidity with intensity and composure as they saw off Kitara. The coach now expects the same qualities to surface when Entebbe arrive at Kitende.
โWe had a good attitude, strong defensively, aggressive and also controlled the game well,โ Lavagne said. โI hope we put up the same performance against Entebbe.โ
Beyond the immediate pursuit of points, Friday’s encounter also forms part of Vipers’ wider preparation for continental football.
๐จ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐/๐๐!!!
The journey to a successful 2026/27 season begins this Friday at St Maryโs Stadium, Kitende.
We take on Entebbe UPPC FC in our first League tie. Be there, your support fuels the fight. This is our season! โ๐ฟโฆ pic.twitter.com/vxvBbTsXF4
โ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ (@VipersSC) August 26, 2026
With the CAF Champions League demanding a higher level of intensity and consistency, Lavagne views the domestic campaign as an important testing ground for his squad. Competitive league matches will provide opportunities to refine combinations, maintain sharpness and build the momentum required for the continental stage.
โItโs also important to help the team prepare for the Champions League. I expect and hope we can do as we did against Kitara in the Super Cup.โ
Entebbe UPPC will arrive at Kitende eager to spoil the champions’ opening act, but Vipers have little appetite for an uncertain start.
For a side chasing another league crown while preparing for Africa, Lavagne’s opening demand is straightforward: win, establish momentum and make the pursuit of title number nine begin immediately.
