Ugandan champions Vipers SC have confirmed their participation in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, with experienced midfielder Taddeo Lwanga expected to play a key leadership role and head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert guiding the team’s ambitions in Kigali, Rwanda

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC have officially confirmed their participation in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, marking their return to East and Central Africa’s biggest club competition after missing previous editions. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 18 to August 9, 2026.
According to reports shared by leading Ugandan sports journalist Peter Otai, Vipers SC accepted the invitation from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) and will be among the headline attractions at this year’s competition.
The confirmation was also announced by Vipers SC Chief Executive Officer Simon Peter Nsubuga, who expressed the club’s gratitude to CECAFA and highlighted their eagerness to compete on the regional stage.
Vipers earned their place in the tournament after being crowned champions of the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League. The Kitende-based side secured their eighth league title following an impressive domestic campaign under Belgian coach Jacky Minnaert.
The 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup is expected to bring together some of the strongest clubs in the region, including Rwanda’s giants APR FC and Rayon Sports, Kenya champions Gor Mahia, Tanzanian powerhouses Young Africans SC and Simba SC, South Sudan’s El Merriekh SC Bentiu, as well as Sudanese heavyweights Al Hilal SC and Al Merrikh SC. League champions from Somalia and Ethiopia are also expected to participate, while CECAFA is considering inviting a guest club from another African football zone.
The tournament is widely regarded as an important preparation platform for clubs heading into the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup campaigns. CECAFA officials believe the competition helps teams gain valuable high-level match experience before continental football begins.
With Vipers SC returning to the tournament and several regional giants expected to compete, football fans in Kigali can look forward to an exciting month of top-class East and Central African club football this July and August.
