Mbale Heroes Secure Promotion to Uganda Premier League After 18 Years, alongside two other clubs. -

Mbale Heroes have secured promotion to the Uganda Premier League for the first time since the 2006/07 season.

By the time they were last relegated, Mbale Heroes also known as the surgeons had spent over a decade in the top flight league and had won the Kakungulu Cup (now the Stanbic Uganda Cup) in 1999.

They secured their spot with an exciting 2-1 win over Onduparaka on the second-to-last match-day of the 2023/24 FUFA Big League season in the presence of their fans at the filled-Up Mbale Municipal Stadium.

This win stamped their stay at the 3rd position on the log with 49 points, seven points ahead of Kataka with only three points remaining up for grabs.

This victory exhibited the team’s resilient character throughout a season of twists, trails and fails , including the sacking of Head Coach Asaph Mwebaze during the final bend who was replaced by Coach Simon Dungu, to put up a remarkable fight to secure historical promotion of the eastern giants.

For a worthwhile journey, Lugazi FC also earned promotion to the StarTimes Uganda Premier League for the first time in the club’s history by defeating Kaaro Karungi FC at their home stadium on Sunday.

Continuing from the sacking of coach Richard Makumbi, Gerald Efiti, a former Lugazi player and coach, assumed control and orchestrated a remarkable transformation in the club’s performance, ultimately guiding them to their inaugural promotion, making them the first team from Lugazi since SCOUL FC in 2002 to play in the top flight.

Under the stewardship of coach simon Peter Mugerwa, Police FC secured their return to the Uganda Premier League (UPL) last week after two seasons in the FUFA Big League. They lead the standings on 53 points , second placed Lugazi on 50 points and Mbale Heroes at 49 in third place.

Police FC Players celebrate a goal against onduparaka last week

The trio replace Arua Hill, Busoga United and Gaddafi who were relegated at the end of the 2023/24 season.

On the final day Sunday, 2nd June, Mbale Heroes will be away to play kiyinda boys at hormisdallen Primary school, Lugazi Fc will visit Jinja North United at kyabazinga stadium and police fc will look to clinch the title as they travel to Mbale to face Kataka FC.