Thomas Ochungo has today become an Eastern Giant with the left back signing a two-year contract.
Ochungo posing with head coach Abbey Bogere
The roving fullback joins us from Gaddafi FC, the team that brought him to the limelight.
Ochungo is one of the most promising fullbacks in the Uganda premier league with alot of potential.
He is a product of the FUFA juniors league having featured for Jinja Municipal Hippos in the first edition of the competition before his stellar performances earned him promotion to the senior side in 2017.
Ochungo first joined Gaddafi FC in 2020 when they were still in the Eastern regional league and guided them to the big league and then to the topflight, before he switched his allegiance to Busoga United in 2022.
Ochungo penning down at BUL
He re-united with the Soldier boys in 2023, scoring two goals and recording one assist last season.
BUL FC is pleased to announce the signing of striker Dickson Matama from Jinja North FC.
The striker has signed a three-year contract with the Eastern Giants and will immediately join up with his new team mates for pre-season.
Striker Dickson Mataama
Upon completing his transfer, Mataama said;
“I think BUL FC is the team that can improve me as a player. According to the way I play, it is the team I believe can elevate my game and I believe I am going to become a monster while here.”
“I think I am in the right place that can help me grow as a player, and I promise to work very hard not to disappoint. I am a kind of a striker who likes scoring goals, and I hope to hit at least 15 goals next season.”
Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said;
“I have been following him, I have been watching him in the big league and I realised he can score. He is so fast, he is that kind of striker who can’t fail to score. If given three, four or five chances, Mataama can convert at least three of them if given the opportunity to play.”
“So if he can produce goals in a difficult competition like big league, how about in the Uganda premier league where he even has the privilege to partner with quality players? I think he will give us plenty of goals.”
“We only had Alex Kitata on the striking line last season and we struggled whenever he was injured. This time, we have opted to get a partner who can ably step in to help Kitata in case of anything and I think we are not going to face the same challenges we faced in the previous season.”
Coach Abbey unveiling Dickson Mataama
Mataama is a product of Bugembe Youth Academy. He joined lower division club Dream Killer FC in 2019 before he was captured by Bugiri De School in 2020.
In 2022, he was transferred to Jinja North while still in the Eastern regional league and guided the club to the FUFA big league where he scored 13 goals across the two seasons he featured in the second tier.
He also played for Butembe County in the Busoga Masaza Cup in 2022.
He will now begin the next chapter of his career with the Eastern Giants. Welcome to BUL FC, Ma – Taa – Ma!
Isaac Wagoina has finalized his move from Express to BUL FC. The forward joins the club after penning a two-year contract which keeps him at the Eastern Giants until 2026.
Striker Isaac Wagoina
Wagoina is widely regarded as one of Uganda’s best strikers apparently and arrives at the club with a formidable goal scoring reputation following an impressive spell at Express last season.
The threat he causes in the final third is underlined by his 17 goal involvements, including 14 goals and three assists in 29 games he played as Express finished 12th last season.
He was also the top scorer of the 2023 FUFA Drum tournament with seven goals while playing for Busoga Province.
After sealing the move, Wagoina said;
“Thank you for welcoming me to BUL FC. It was my decision to join this club, I was not coerced.”
“I looked at all the teams that were chasing my signature and BUL was the best amongst all. Arguably, it is the biggest team in Uganda.”
“I looked at its ambitions, ability and possibility of winning great things and all the boxes were just ticking.”
“I then decided as a player that this is the right team I should play for. I believe it is the team that will improve me as a player and possibly also take me to the national team ranks.”
“Therefore, I have come here to work hard and also join forces with my fellow players to see that the team achieves its goals.”
He previously played for Iganga Young, Busoga United and Busei United before switching to Express at the start of last season.
Everyone at BUL FC welcomes Wagoina to the Club and wishes him the best of luck throughout his time here.
BUL FC is pleased to announce the signing of Bakali Magumba from Mbarara City. The 27 year-old defender has signed a two-year contract with the Eastern Giants.
Defender Bakali Magumba
On joining BUL, Magumba said;
“It’s a dream come true for me to be here now. I have been a fan of this great club since childhood and always dreamt of playing for the team.”
“BUL is our home team and I am proud that they have given me the chance to comeback home.”
“This is the team I have always wanted to play for, it’s the team that I have been working hard to impress, and now that I have got the opportunity to put on these colors, I and my fellow players shall fight hard to achieve the team’s goals.”
Magumba comes with a wealthy of experience in the topflight having featured for Busoga United (2017-2018) and Gaddafi FC (2019 -2023) in the Uganda premier league before he was transferred to Mbarara City.
The defender also plays for Busoga Province and was named on the best eleven of the FUFA Drum in the last edition.
Coach Abbey unveiling Bakali Magumba
He began his career as a goalkeeper at Tahweed Academy before converting into a defender.
Defender Ronald Otti has left the club after the expiration of his contract.
Ronald Otti celebrates with teammates
During his two-year tenure at BUL, Otti helped the team win the Super 8 trophy in 2023 and was very instrumental as the Eastern Giants finished second last season.
Defender Ronald Otti in action
Everyone at BUL FC appreciates his contribution to the team and wishes him the very best at his new club. Thank you.
Lawrence Tezikya celebrating after scoring against Vipers.
BUL FC will become the first club to host from Namboole stadium in four years as they will host its home fixture against Vipers at the newly redeveloped stadium on Wednesday.
The clash is among the test series of matches to be held at the facility before it is passed by CAF to host international matches.
Abbey Kikomeko’s men will be looking to return to winning ways and possibly return to the top of the table after going two games without victory.
Alex Kitata in action
The Eastern Giants lost 1-0 to NEC in their last Uganda premier league outing before the sides drew 1-1 in the semifinals of the Uganda Cup.
Wednesday’s clash is a battle between the 3rd and the 2nd, and the winner will automatically march to the summit of the log as both sides have 46 points, only two behind current leaders Kitara.
Matches between the two sides have quite often produced fireworks, and more of the same is expected on Wednesday. BUL FC was fabulous in the reverse fixture, winning 3-2 at St. Mary’s stadium with the Venom’s long standing home record coming to a halt in the process.
BUL FC players celebrating
This will be the 28th league meeting between the two teams.
Team News
Douglas Muganga is still out nursing an injury.
“We are playing one of our last four games this season. We defeated Vipers 3-2 in the first leg but they may come with full force tomorrow,” Coach James Magala said.
“We have also prepared very well. We have already felt the pitch and the players are in good conditions. We have prepared the boys very well and they are ready in every aspect.”
“We have crafted the right plan for this match and we are waiting for the game to kick off.”
“We are ready as players. The coaches have done their part; we have trained at Namboole pitch for two days now.”
“The game is expected to be tough as we all need the three points to enhance our chances of winning the trophy.”
“Even if we are at a neutral ground, we can beat them.” says forward Alex Kitata
Head-to-head
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The teams have faced off on 27 occasions in all competitions since 2011, producing five wins for BUL, fifteen for Vipers and seven draws.
Last four encounters
December 17, 2023
Vipers SC 2-1 BUL FC
May 23, 2023
BUL FC 1-1 Vipers SC
August 12, 2023
BUL FC 1-0 Vipers SC (Super 8 quarter finals)
December 22, 2023
Vipers SC 2-3 BUL FC
Match Facts
BUL FC has picked eight wins, two draws and losses apiece in 12 home fixtures to collect 26 points from a possible 36.
As a result, the Eastern Giants have scored 17 goals and conceded six only across the games.
It is three wins, two draws and one loss for BUL in their last six outings.
And the team is also unbeaten in their last four home games – winning three and drawing one in all competitions.
The Eastern Giants have now won three games and drawn one of their last five meetings with the venoms across all competitions.
This fixture has produced a total of 65 goals and BUL have 23 to their name since 2011.
Only six stalemates have come in the games involving the sides, and four were goalless.
Vipers have won five games, drawn three and lost one in ten (10) away games to pick 18 points from a possible 30.
The Venoms have also won only one game in their last four outings in all competitions.
Match Coverage
This mouthwatering clash is live on television and all our social media channels will relay minute to minute text commentary concurrently.
BUL FC welcome KCCA FC to the FUFA technical centre on Saturday afternoon in the Stanbic Uganda Cup quarter finals, with both sides entering the game following convincing wins almost a week ago.
The Eastern Giants who had not won in four outings beat Wakiso Giants 3-0 to get back to winning ways last Saturday.
The victory gave Abbey Kikomeko’s men a life line in the title chase and this cup competition provides a double front on which to fight for a silverware this season.
BUL made it to this stage with three super wins against Simba FC (3-0), Kyambura Rastas (1-0) and Express (4-1 on penalties).
KCCA FC reached the quarter finals thanks to wins over Admin/Bugisu United (2-0), Jinja North United (2-0) and URA FC (1-0) and is yet to concede a goal in the competition.
Both sides exited the cup at this level last season but this time one will have a chance to play in the semi finals.
BUL have already enjoyed success over KCCA this season, beating them 1-0 at FUFA technical centre in September last year before they mustered a goalless draw in February at Lugogo.
But the visitors have recorded five wins in a row from their last five matches, keeping three clean sheets.
Team News
The coach confirmed the club has a clean bill of health and has no single suspension to contend with.
His remarks;
“We played KCCA twice in the league, we won them 1-0 here and then played out a 0-0 draw at Lugogo. But we are now playing them in the Uganda Cup which is a totally different competition,” Abbey Kikomeko said.
“All I know is they’re going to come full force, wanting to qualify for the next level.”
“But we also want to qualify for the semi finals. We lost at the quarter finals last season. This time we want to perform better and if possible, we March up to the finals or even win the trophy.”
“Our target for this edition is nothing short of the trophy. Whatever competition we play in and it has a trophy, it ultimately becomes our target.”
Captain George Kasonko said;
“There are no second chances at this level of the competition. We should handle each game at a time and this moment we are focusing on the game with KCCA.”
“If we are to meet some of the goals for the club this season , we should win it.”
“So we are not just going to play KCCA, but we are looking at beating them.”
BUL FC return to the Uganda Cup action at FUFA technical centre in Njeru on Sunday evening when we host ten time winners Express FC in a round of 16 showdown. It is the first home fixture for the Eastern Giants in this competition this term.
While BUL were held to a 0-0 draw by Maroons in the Uganda premier league the last time out, Alex Isabirye’s troops rejoiced in a 3-1 beating of UPDF on Friday.
The Eastern Giants will however put the stalemate behind them, and head into this Uganda Cup fixture with hopes of making it to the quarter finals, having made it here by knocking Simba (3-0) and Kyambura Rastas (1-0) out in the previous rounds.
Express made it to the last 16 after defeating MYDA 1-0 in the round of 64. Their clash at the round of 32 might have ended 1-1 against Rwenzori Lions, but they did get the job done when it mattered most, winning 8-7 on penalties.
The teams have already thrown jabs against each other this season, albeit in the UPL, with the sides drawing 1-1 in November last year at Wankulukuku where BUL had to die a little to earn a point after two defenders – Banon Tahomera and Walter Ochora were sent off in the second half of the contest.
They equally shared the previous two meetings in Uganda Cup. The first face off was in March 2019 and The Red Eagles won 1-0 in the semi final bout at Wankulukuku before the Eastern Giants revenged in 2021 at the same stage of the competition, with the same score at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on course to reaching the first cup final.
Team News
Coach Abby confirmed he will not have Reagan Kalyowa and Douglas Muganga who are out due to injury while Hillary Onek will miss due to accumulated yellow cards.
Express is a top flight team and I believe it will be hard game but we are going to fight tooth and nail to win the game and we storm quarter final.
We are playing our former coach who won stanbic Uganda cup with BUL but right now its me at BUL and I also want to win this same trophy with this team, says Coach Abby
BUL FC’s opening game of the second round against KCCA ended 0-0 with both sides somehow failing to find the back of the net on Friday.
This meant BUL stretched their lead at the summit to 34 points from 16 rounds of play.
The Eastern Giants may however feel undone by three injuries that savaged the team as early as the 10th minute.
Martin Aprem was the first casualty as he was forced off ten minutes in, paving way for Amos Kirya to make his debut .
As if that was not enough, Douglas Muganga also got injured and unable to continue with play ten minutes to the break. Coach Abbey Kikomeko turned to his bench and picked Ibrahim Mugulusi to take charge of the midfield affairs at Lugogo.
Then the team would be hit more as Jerome Kirya also felt unwell and was withdrawn before the restart, with Ibrahim Kazindula taking up his place in the middle of the park.
Left back Nicholas Mwere in action
Both sides occasionally threatened and enjoyed brief spells of dominance but neither could find an all important break through.
Against the run of play, KCCA got the first offensive moment with Muhammad Shaban heading wide nonetheless before Tom Ikara saved Emmanuel Loki’s effort midway the first half.
The second half also failed to ignite and became a bit scrappy. Lawrence Tezikya latched on a rebound in the box following a well swung in corner by Ibrahim Mugulusi however his shot was miles away from the goal posts.
In the closing moments, the hosts crafted an opportunity when Joao Gabriel made a darting run and passed into the area, Katenga was somehow late and the ball went out begging.
BUL will now return to FUFA technical for the match against Bright Stars on Wednesday next week.
Starting XI:
Tom Ikara (GK), Hillary Onek, Nicholas Mwere, Walter Ochora, Ronald Otti, Douglas Muganga (Ibrahim Mugulusi 35′), George Kasonko, Jerome Kirya (Ibrahim Kazindula 45′), Martin Aprem (Amos Kirya 10′), Lawrence Tezikya (Gerald Ogweti 80′), Alex Kitata.
Unused Substitutes:
Joel Mutakubwa, Benon Tahomera, Emmanuel Obua, Reagan Kalyowa, Joel Madondo.
BUL FC look to consolidate their grip at the top of the Uganda premier league on Thursday evening as they make the trip to Bombo military grounds to take on UPDF FC
Highly impressive early-season form sees the Eastern Giants boast with six wins in as many games – their aim now is to preserve the unbeaten run by securing consecutive victories.
The Eastern Giants sit pretty well in the first place on the Uganda premier league log with 18 points having not dropped even a point in six rounds.
Defender Nicholas Mwere in a action.
Abbey Kikomeko’s men convincingly beat Bright Stars, KCCA, Arua Hill, Maroons and SC Villa. They also picked points against a boggy URA side last time out. Therefore, every game is there for the taking for BUL.
In their way however lie a bewildering army side that is eager to get up and running in front of its own fans and is desperate to continue its renaissance.
After losing three consecutive games, UPDF recently drew with Express and beat Busoga United in their immediate last two games.
They currently occupy 12th position in the table with one win, two draws and three defeats from their six games played so far. They come into the encounter with five points, one and two ahead of Wakiso Giants and Bright Stars respectively.
It was a one all draw when the sides last met in April. This will be the 13th meeting between the two teams.
Striker Alex Kitata
TEAM NEWS:
Midfielder Pascal Ngobi will miss the clash after sustaining an injury against URA in the dieing minutes of the game but the rest of the squad are available for selection.
‘‘ UPDF is a strong side, we haven’t won in Bombo in the last 4 outings but we are going there to change those numbers this time. We are building on our current form to get maximum points from Bombo. The boys are in good shape, we have prepared them well and they are ready to deliver tomorrow’’, assistant coach James Magala.
Captain George Kasonko ” Our last six wins are not news anymore everybody knows we won them, our focus now is on tomorrow’s game against UPDF that is very crucial to us and we going to play it as a final . We are in good shape and ready to battle for maximum points. We call upon our fans to come support us tomorrow and promise to get maximum points for them”
Head to Head
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Twelve matches have been played between these teams, producing six wins for BUL, four for UPDF and two draws since 2015.
Previous four encounters
December 23, 2021
UPDF FC 1-1 BUL FC
March 01, 2022
BUL 5-1 UPDF FC
October 8, 2022
BUL FC 3-1 UPDF FC
February 21, 2023
UPDF 1-1 BUL FC
BUL FC starting line up against URA
Match Facts
BUL have won all their past six games, including the three away matches this season, scoring ten (10) goals and conceding two in the process with a maximum of 15 points collected.
From the six games, they have managed four clean sheets, against – Bright Stars, KCCA FC, Maroons and URA FC.
Eight of BUL’s ten goals have come in the first half.
The Eastern Giants are unbeaten in the last five meetings with UPDF, winning three matches and drawing two, with 14 goals scored and seven conceded during the same run.
BUL’s last loss to UPDF occurred three years ago when they were defeated by the army side 2-1 in December of 2020. The Eastern Giants’ first half lead through Joseph Ssemujju was overturned by Dickens Okwir’s late double for UPDF.
However, BUL has never won a league match away at UPDF. In six trips to Bombo, the Eastern Giants have drawn two games and lost three but they were beneficiaries of a FUFA Disciplinary Committee Panel’s decision to overturn UPDF’s 1-0 victory over BUL, and awarded three points and three goals to the Eastern Giants after the army team used Sulaiman Majanjalo who was ineligible to play in that game of April 2018.
Injured Pascal Ngobi celebrating with striker Lawrence Tezikya
This fixture has produced a winner in ten of their past twelve (12) meetings, and 38 goals have been scored across the games, with BUL FC having a lion’s share of 23.
The two stalemates in this fixture ended 1-1; and in both, BUL scored first. Musa Esenu’s goal in the 12th minute was cancelled out by Ivan Ahimbisibwe for UPDF in December 2021 while Frank Yiga equalized for the army side after Hillary Onek had put BUL ahead last season in February 2023.
UPDF have won three times in six home league games against BUL since 2015. They won 3-1 in February 2016, 2-0 in February 2017 and 2-1 in December 2021.
This campaign, the hosts have won one game, drawn two and lost three to pick five points from six matches.
And they have failed to win all their three homes games – drew against Express and URA, and lost 0-2 against Wakiso Giants in September.
They have kept two clean sheets so far – against URA FC and Busoga United.
But they have also failed to score in four of their six outings.
They have scored three goals this term and conceded six across all the matches.
Two of their three goals have come in the second half. However, their visitors have conceded one goal only after the break.
Match Coverage:
Our social media channels will relay minute to minute text commentary during play time. A match report and highlights will follow shortly.
Head-to-head
The victory gave Abbey Kikomeko’s men a life line in the title chase and this cup competition provides a double front on which to fight for a silverware this season.
BUL have already enjoyed success over KCCA this season, beating them 1-0 at FUFA technical centre in September last year before they mustered a goalless draw in February at Lugogo.
Express made it to the last 16 after defeating MYDA 1-0 in the round of 64. Their clash at the round of 32 might have ended 1-1 against Rwenzori Lions, but they did get the job done when it mattered most, winning 8-7 on penalties.
Team News
