Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC will use the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup as a possibility to evaluate their squad forward of the home and continental competitions awaiting them this season.
Nicknamed The Venoms, Vipers are the third-most profitable membership in Uganda's prime flight with eight league titles, together with the 2025/26 championship. After lifting the league crown, the membership now faces a demanding schedule that begins with the CECAFA Kagame Cup in Kigali earlier than shifting focus to the 2026 FUFA Tremendous Cup and the CAF Champions League.
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Head coach Denis Lavagne named a 24-man squad for the regional match, that includes 4 new recruits together with Ugandan veteran midfielder Farouk Miya, who returns to the membership after a decade taking part in in Europe, Congolese striker César Manzoki, Gabonese goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba, and midfielder Joel Sserunjogi.
Talking forward of Friday's Group A opener in opposition to Djibouti's FC Garde Républicaine, Lavagne described the CECAFA Kagame Cup as an vital check for his squad as they proceed preparations for the brand new marketing campaign.
“The CECAFA Kagame Cup is an effective check for us. We should do our greatest to win each recreation we play, however our essential goal is August 23,” Lavagne stated, referring to the 2026 FUFA Tremendous Cup.
Vipers captain Milton Karisa echoed his coach's sentiments, saying the match affords the proper platform for the squad to construct chemistry earlier than the beginning of the aggressive season.
He believes integrating the membership's new signings early will strengthen the workforce as they put together to defend their home title and characterize Uganda within the CAF Champions League.
“Having these new gamers is an enormous optimistic for us as a result of we get the prospect to play collectively early. Their expertise will assist the workforce lots, and we need to return house with good outcomes,” Karisa stated.
Vipers final featured within the CECAFA Kagame Cup in 2018, once they reached the quarterfinals earlier than being eradicated by Kenya's Gor Mahia.
