{{Short description|Association football club in Uganda}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Vipers | image = Vipers SC logo.png | fullname = Vipers Sports Club | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1969}} (as Bunamwaya FC) | ground = [[St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende|St Mary's Stadium-Kitende]] | capacity = 15,000 | chrtitle = President | chairman = [[Lawrence Mulindwa]] | manager = John Luyinda- Fred Muhumuza | league = [[Uganda Premier League]] | season = [[2024–25 Uganda Premier League|2024–25]] | position = Uganda Premier League, Champions of 16 | website = https://viperssc.co.ug/ }}
'''Vipers Sports Club''' is a [[Ugandan]] professional [[association football]] club based in Kitende, [[Wakiso District]]. It competes in the [[Uganda Premier League]], the top flight of [[Ugandan|Ugandan football]]. The club was founded in 1969 as Bunamwaya FC. They are nicknamed '''"The Venoms."'''
== History == The club was founded as '''Bunamwaya FC''' in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/12828-2012-13-super-league-club-preview-vipers-sports-club.html?tmpl=component&print=1|title=VIPERS FC PROFILE|website=kawowo.com|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232754/http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/12828-2012-13-super-league-club-preview-vipers-sports-club.html?tmpl=component&print=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since 2006, after the team was promoted from the Regional Leagues (2nd division at the time), Vipers SC have played in the [[Uganda Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oeg05.html|title=Uganda 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125193930/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oeg05.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They have finished in the table's top half on every single season ever since being promoted to the Premier League.
With the backing of president [[Lawrence Mulindwa]], the club signed several important players for the 2010 season, including seven members of the Ugandan National Team at the time. In this season, Bunamwaya won their first ever Premier League title with two rounds to spare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=9164:how-bunamwaya-became-ugandan-football-kings|title=How Bunamwaya became Ugandan football kings|first=John Vianney|last=Nsimbe|website=observer.ug|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618102425/http://www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=9164:how-bunamwaya-became-ugandan-football-kings|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oeg2010.html|title=Uganda 2009/10|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125205027/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oeg2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They did not participate in the 2011 CAF Champions League for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1276644/bunamwaya-caf-cash-woes|title=Bunamwaya out of CAF over cash woes|website=newvision.co.ug|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618102532/https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1276644/bunamwaya-caf-cash-woes|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bunamwaya were unable to replicate their success in a short succeeding period, finishing third in 2011 and finishing as runners-up in both Cup and League on 2012.
On 21 August 2012, Bunamwaya was renamed to '''Vipers SC''' in order to "elevate the status of the club" and to "make them more nationally relevant".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634357-Bunamwaya-FC-renamed-Vipers-SC.html |title=Bunamwaya FC renamed Vipers SC – New Vision |access-date=2013-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825154114/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634357-bunamwaya-fc-renamed-vipers-sc.html |archive-date=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Vipers lost the 2013 Uganda Cup final in heartbreaking fashion. After taking the lead in the 78th minute with a penalty scored by Joseph Mprade, the [[Victoria University Uganda|Victoria University]] scored a goal in the final seconds of the match and then went on to win the penalty shootouts by 5–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kawowo.com/2013/05/26/scvu-edge-vipers-sc-to-claim-the-2013-uganda-cup/|title=SC Victoria University are 2013 Uganda Cup Kings|date=26 May 2013|website=kawowo.com|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618102545/https://www.kawowo.com/2013/05/26/scvu-edge-vipers-sc-to-claim-the-2013-uganda-cup/|url-status=live}}</ref>
League success finally came again in the 2014–15 season after a nearly unbeaten league campaign, which saw Vipers only falls out to a defeat on a single match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oeg2015.html|title=Uganda 2014/15|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref> They were led by Edward Golola. The club had close ties with Kitende's St. Mary's School, with 17 players of the 2015 title-winning squad hailing from the school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/Sports/Soccer/Golola-role-can-t-be-ignored/690266-2742734-14i7b54z/index.html|title=Golola role can't be ignored|date=7 June 2015|publisher=Daily Monitor|access-date=29 July 2019|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729213403/https://www.monitor.co.ug/Sports/Soccer/Golola-role-can-t-be-ignored/690266-2742734-14i7b54z/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Seninde Duncan.jpg|thumb|Vipers SC midfielder Seninde Ezekiel Duncan during Uganda Premier League match in May 2018]] The league title led Vipers to try out on continental competition for the first time. In the [[2016 CAF Champions League]], they played and lost their first ever continental match by 1–2 on aggregate to Nigerian club [[Enyimba FC]] in the preliminary round.
Vipers finished as runners up in the 2015–16 season, but saw their first ever success in the [[Uganda Cup]], beating [[Onduparaka FC]] by 3–1 in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upl.co.ug/vipers-claim-maiden-cup-to-end-onduparaka-fairytale/|title=Vipers claim maiden Cup to end Onduparaka fairytale|date=18 June 2016|website=upl.co.ug|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125621/https://upl.co.ug/vipers-claim-maiden-cup-to-end-onduparaka-fairytale/|url-status=live}}</ref> The win qualified them for the [[2017 CAF Confederation Cup]]. In the preliminary round, they played against [[Volcan Club de Moroni|Volcan Club]] from [[Comoros]], and ended barely winning the match on the away-goal rule after drawing 1–1 on aggregate. On the first round, they fell short to [[Platinum Stars]] of [[South Africa]] in the first round, having lost by 3–2 on aggregate. This loss came after conceding a 90th-minute penalty in the last moment of the tie.
The Vipers participated in the [[2018–19 CAF Champions League]] qualifying rounds. They played and won the preliminary round by the away-goal rule, after tying 1–1 with [[Al-Merrikh SC]] from [[Sudan]]. In the first round, they fell one match shy to the group stage against [[CS Constantine]] of [[Algeria]], after a 0–3 defeat on aggregate.
In May 2020, Vipers was declared champions of the 2019–20 Uganda Premier League while leading the table with 54 points after 25 matches. This league title was their fourth in their history. The league title was awarded before its completion as it was cancelled mid-season by the FUFA due to the [[COVID-19]] outbreak. At the 2021–22 season, with four remaining matches, Vipers won another league title after a 3–0 win against [[Express FC]], leading the team to qualify to the qualifying rounds of the [[2022–23 CAF Champions League]].
On the preliminary round of the [[2022–23 CAF Champions League|competition]], they were able to win their tie with relative ease, winning both matches played against [[Olympic Real de Bangui]] from [[Central African Republic]]. On the first round, they were paired against [[TP Mazembe]] from [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]]. After tying both matches by 0–0, penalty shoot-outs were required. Vipers ended up winning the shoot-out by 4–2, qualifying them to the group stage of a [[CAF Champions League]] for the first time ever.
On the [[2022–23 CAF Champions League group stage]], the club was paired to the Group C alongside [[Raja CA]] ([[Morocco]]), [[Simba S.C.|Simba]] ([[Tanzania]]) and [[Horoya AC|Horoya]] ([[Guinea]]).
On May 24, 2025, Vipers SC were officially crowned as Champions of the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League as the season came to a climax.
The Venoms emerged Champions after a remarkable season where they outshone the rest of the teams.
The crowning ceremony came immediately after their final game of the season against Soltilo Bright Stars FC which ended in a one-all draw.
Vipers SC ended the season with 69 points, two ahead of NEC FC who edged URA FC 1-0 in Lugogo. [[File:Vipers SC.jpg|alt=Vipers SC players celebrate after winning the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League|center|thumb|800x800px|Vipers SC players celebrate after winning the 2024–25 Uganda Premier League]]
=== Stadium === They play at [[St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende]], which has a capacity of 25,000 with more than 1,000 VIP seats.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070622024032/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=uga/nationalleague/standings.html FIFA]</ref> The stadium was completely refurbished in 2018 and includes artificial turf.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2018/09/25/refurbished-st-marys-stadium-kitende-officially-opened/|title=Refurbished St Mary's Stadium, Kitende officially opened|first=David|last=Isabirye|publisher=Kawowo.com|date=September 25, 2018|access-date=June 22, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926114649/https://www.kawowo.com/2018/09/25/refurbished-st-marys-stadium-kitende-officially-opened/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 3 March 2017, the African football governing body, [[Confederation of African Football|CAF]], cleared the then newly constructed St Mary's Stadium to host football games. St. Mary's stadium is the home of SC Vipers, located in '''Kitende''' on Entebbe Road and was built by the club patron and former [[FUFA]] president, Doctor [[Lawrence Mulindwa]].
== Achievements == *'''[[Ugandan Premier League]]''' **Champions (7): 2009–10, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 *'''[[Ugandan Cup]]''' **Winners (4): 2015–16, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2024–25 *'''Ugandan Super Cup''' **Winners (1): 2015 *'''Pilsner Super Cup''' **Winners (1): 2019
== Current Team== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1 |nat=COD|name=Alfred Mudekereza|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no= 2 |nat=UGA|name=Grant Matsiko|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 3 |nat=UGA|name=Derrick Ndahiro|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 4 |nat=UGA|name=[[Livingstone Mulondo]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 5 |nat=COD|name=Kevin Bady|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 6 |nat=UGA|name=[[Taddeo Lwanga]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 7 |nat=NGR|name=Odili Chukwuma|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 8 |nat=UGA|name=Enock Ssebaggala|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 11 |nat=UGA|name=[[Milton Karisa]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 12 |nat=UGA|name=[[Yunus Sentamu]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 13 |nat=UGA|name=Frank Katongole|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 14 |nat=UGA|name=[[Nicholas Wadada]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 15 |nat=UGA|name=Enock Luyima|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 16 |nat=UGA|name=[[Hilary Mukundane]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 17 |nat=UGA|name=Isaac Ogwang|pos=FW}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no= 18 |nat=UGA|name=Paul Mbowa|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 19 |nat=UGA|name=Jack Komakech|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no= 20 |nat=UGA|name=[[Denis Kiggundu]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 21 |nat=COD|name=Gusto Mulongo|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 22 |nat=UGA|name=[[Marvin Joseph Youngman|Marvin Youngman]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 25 |nat=UGA|name=[[Abdul Karim Watambala|Abdul Watambala]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 26 |nat=LBR|name=Mark Yallah|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 27 |nat=UGA|name=Arafati Usama|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 28 |nat=UGA|name=Bashir Ssekagya|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no= 29 |nat=UGA|name=Annest Ankunda|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 30 |nat=UGA|name=[[Rogers Torach]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 31 |nat=UGA|name=[[Ashraf Mandela]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 33 |nat=LBR|name=Robin Hney|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 35 |nat=COD|name=Beyuku Glodi|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 77 |nat=UGA|name=Abubakali Walusimbi|pos=MF}} {{Fs end}}
== Current Technical team == {{Updated|5 January 2025.}} {| class="wikitable" |- |'''Co Coaches''' || John Luyinda (Ayala)-Fred Muhumuza |- |'''Assistant coach''' || José Esdras |- |'''Assistant coach''' || Male Daniel |- |'''Goalkeeper Trainer''' || Ali Kimera |- |'''Team doctor''' || Lule Micheal |- |'''Team doctor''' || Kyeyune Alouzious |- |'''Video Analyst''' || Kenneth Kelvin |- |'''Physical trainer''' || Kato Ibrahim |- |'''Sporting Director''' || Charles Masembe |- |'''Kits Manager''' || Edward Ssentongo |}
==Former managers== *{{flagicon|Brazil}} Léo Neiva *{{flagicon|Brazil}} Robertinho Oliveira *{{flagicon|Portugal}} Cardoso de Carmo
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://viperssc.co.ug/ Vipers SC] – official website *[https://www.goal.com/en-ug/team/vipers/fixtures-results/bi084dnzwxqicamwpeyo99yj8 Vipers SC fixtures and results] on [[Goal (website)|Goal.com]]
{{Uganda Premier League}}
[[Category:Football clubs in Uganda]] [[Category:Central Region, Uganda]] [[Category:1969 establishments in Uganda]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1969]] [[Category:Vipers SC]]