Kampala’s football heartbeat will be expected to pound louder on Thursday night as Express and KCCA collide once again this time under the bright lights of Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo. The legendary derby returns to its spiritual home, bringing with it decades of rivalry, pride, and passion that transcend the league standings.
Both sides enter the contest hungry for consistency in what has been an unpredictable start to the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League campaign. For KCCA, the clash offers a chance to reignite their title charge after being held to back-to-back draws, the latest a frustrating stalemate with Lugazi. The Cityzens, still unbeaten, will, however, be without co-head coach Brian Ssenyondo, who is away with the national U17 team in Qatar. His counterpart, Jackson Magera, will lead the team in his absence and is confident in their readiness.
“Derbies are never about form it’s about pride and who wants it more,” Magera noted. “We know what this fixture means to our fans, and we’ll fight to deliver a result that makes them proud.”
Express, meanwhile, have endured a stop-start campaign, managing one win, one draw, and one defeat from their opening fixtures. Their latest outing a 1-1 draw against URA showcased both their resilience and areas needing improvement. But with in-form forward Muhammad Kagawa Ssenoga, a former KCCA man, leading their attack, the Red Eagles are keen to make a statement against their city rivals.
The return to Nakivubo adds more than nostalgia it promises electricity in the stands and fire on the pitch. Both sides are separated by just a point on the log, adding further spice to an already explosive encounter.
History slightly tilts toward KCCA, who have claimed 13 wins to Express’s six in their last 33 meetings, with 14 ending in draws. Yet, in Kampala derbies, numbers mean little it’s pride, passion, and pressure that define the night.
When the whistle blows at Nakivubo, expect a fierce contest where reputations are tested, heroes are made, and Kampala’s football soul takes center stage once again.
