BUL FC is thrilled to announce the signing of midfielder Isaac Musiima from Ntugasanze Football Club on a three-year contract.
The 21-year-old joins the club with an impressive track record, having scored 11 goals for Ntugasanze last season.
Musiima’s exceptional skills didn’t go unnoticed, as he also led Bulemezi to victory in the 2023 Masaza Cup and emerged as the top scorer in 2021 while featuring for Buwekula.
“I chose BUL FC because it’s a big team with big ambitions, and I’m an ambitious person with a winning mentality,The competition at BUL will help me become a better player, as I love competition. I’m here to add value to the club and win trophies,” Isaac Musiima said.
Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said;
“Isaac is a very skilled and speedy midfielder who will add value to our team, With him on board, a lot of creativity should be expected in the midfield.”
BUL FC celebrating after winning the trophy last season
Defending champions BUL FC are set to face Maroons FC in the opening match of the FUFA Super 8 tournament tomorrow at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. The Eastern Giants, who won the title last season, are confident of a positive start in this campaign.
BUL FC boasts a strong squad, bolstered by the signings of Bakali Magumba, Thomas Ochungo, Najib Fesali, Dickson Mataama, and Isaac Wagoina. Head Coach Abbey Bogere believes his team has what it takes to overcome Maroons.
“We face Maroons tomorrow in the FUFA Super 8, and as defending champions, we’re aware that this year’s edition is different, with a home-and-away basis and only two pitches, which negates the home advantage.”
“We’re prepared, having trained for a few weeks. The players are ready and prepared to defend the trophy. They’re eager to play with all their heart and secure three points from Maroons.”
TEAM NEWS:
Douglas Muganga remains sidelined with a knee injury, but the rest of the squad is available for selection.
Defender Benon Tahomera expressed optimism ahead of the game:
“We’re all prepared for tomorrow and ready to pick maximum points from Maroons while defending the trophy. We urge our fans to turn up in large numbers and rally behind us.”
Maroons, however, won’t be easy opponents, boasting a talented, experienced, and young squad.
MATCH COVERAGE:
The game will be broadcast live on TV, with timely updates on our social media handles, followed by a post-match report and match highlights.
The Eastern Giants welcome URA to FUFA Technical Centre on Tuesday in the Uganda premier league, match day six at 4pm (EAT).
Hillary Onek battling for the ball with the opponent
Our winning run was extended to five games following last week’s 2-1 away victory over sixteen time league champions – SC Villa.
It was quite the contrast for URA; they drew 1-1 against Maroons at the prisons grounds. Having got a late lead, the tax collectors were close to bagging all the three points but were denied at last when the home side equalized in added time.
BUL is currently second on the log after enjoying a strong start to the season – with five wins in as many games, beating Bright Stars, KCCA, Arua Hill, Maroons and SC Villa to count 15 points, same as leaders Kitara. Of the five victories, three have come away from home.
Winger Martin Aprem in action
Our most recent encounter came in March 2023 where we lost 1-0 in Njeru.
Heading into the game, three places and six points separate the sides. URA is sixth with nine points after winning only two games.
This will be the 25th meeting between the two teams.
Team News
Striker Joel Madondo missed the SC Villa game due to injury and remains on the sidelines even against URA. The rest of the squad is available and ready for contention.
About tomorrow’s clash, head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said that he expects a tough challenge from the visitors but he echoed BUL plays to win, not to lose and that our current exciting form is not a fluke nor just a one off.
“The good form we are having is not a mere happening, we have fought for it and we shall continue to fight hard to see that we maintain it. The boys are in high gear as every game we play is a final, that is why we’re still unbeaten – we don’t look at losing – we play to win,” he said.
“We won against SC Villa in our last match, a game that wasn’t easy. Now we play URA who drew in their last outing.”
“It is going to be a tough game against us though. We played and even defeated them in the super eight final but this time we are going to play competing for points and I think we are going to put in whatever it takes to get the three points given that we are at home.”
“We shall fight hard to get the points as much as they will also want them.”
BUL FC starting 1X that won against URA in the FUFA super 8 finals
Assistant captain Joel Mutakubwa;
“We know they are not an easy side but we are going to play under instructions and we might use the home advantage because we don’t want to lose any game at home,”
“Basically the players are in good shape and willing to give their best. But we are going to take it like any other game. We have ninety minutes to play for, and with the instructions of the coach, we shall certainly get the maximum points.”
Head to Head
Twenty four (24) matches have been played between the sides in the league since November 2011, with the duels ending in three BUL FC wins, 11 URA victories and ten draws
Last four meetings
November 20, 2021
URA 2-2 BUL FC
April 04, 2022
BUL FC 2-0 URA FC
October 14, 2022
URA 1-1 BUL FC
March 04, 2023
BUL FC 0-1 URA FC
Match facts
BUL have won all their opening five matches this season to collect 15 points, a record only matched by Kitara.
The fantastic run has stretched our unbeaten run to seven league matches, stretching back to last season.
Abbey Kikomeko’s men have scored nine (9) goals at the time; only NEC (10) and Kitara (11) have scored more.
From the past four meetings between the sides, the Eastern Giants have lost only one to URA, the 1-0 home loss in March.
BUL’s three wins off URA arrived with clean sheets, the similar scores of 1-0 in April of 2016 and February 2018, and the 2-0 victory in April 2022.
Of the ten stalemates in this fixture, six were one all draws, two were goalless; while the other two were two all stalemates.
URA has won two games, and drawn three of their five outings, and they are one of the five teams that are still unbeaten.
The tax collectors have also drawn all their three away matches this term – against; UPDF (0-0), Bright Stars (1-1) and Maroons (1-1).
All games involving the visitors this season have not had more than two goals.
Match Officials
Kasalirwe Lucky will take charge of the match from the center. Osire Juma and Kateregga Ashraf to run the lines as the first and second assistant referees in that order. Duula Joshua will serve as the fourth official, while Tomusange Ali will be the referee assessor.
Match Coverage:
The best way to enjoy every bit of this game is to come to FUFA technical center. Meanwhile you can also follow the action through our social media channels below with full text coverage during the game followed by a match report and highlights.
BUL FC teenagers – Richard Okello, Innocent Rwothomio, Julius Baraza and Swabiru Mpasa have signed their first senior contracts with the club.
Striker Innocent Rwothomio during a Juniors league action for BUL FC JT
After showing outstanding performances at the juniors’ side, the quartet were drafted into the first team where they equally impressed last season, and each has now penned a three year contract with the Eastern Giants.
Okello scored thirteen goals in eighteen matches as the junior team qualified for the national juniors’ league championship. Rwothomio bagged twelve in thirteen games. Both featured in six and five first team games respectively.
Mpasa, who plays as midfielder, played one match with the senior team. He scored five goals in seventeen outings for the age group side, while defender Baraza made three appearances at the first team, and seventeen with the under 17 category
BUL Football Club can confirm the signing of Edrine Mukisa Opaala from Busoga United. The attacking midfielder has signed a two year contract with us.
A product of Jinja SS, the 19 year old arrives at the Eastern Giants with a wealth of topflight football in his legs after playing in the Uganda premier league for the past three seasons.
“Opaala is still young and has been playing well, assisting and doing so many things. We thought it was high time he joins a good team like BUL so that he can excel with his talent,” head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said.
“I know his ability, I know the kind of football he plays and the kind of passes he crafts. He will actually add creativity to our midfield.”
“He is a product of Copa Coca Cola schools tournament and majority of these players have excelled, and they have gone as far as playing professional football.”
“So we thought bringing him on board at BUL will be a better achievement for him.”
After signing for the Eastern Giants, Opaala said;
“I am excited to join the BUL family. I thank the management for the opportunity given to me, I am ready to compete.”
Opaala was named the 2019 Copa Coca Cola Most Valuable Player and won the same award in the Busoga Masaza Cup when he was playing for Buzaya County in the 2019 edition.
Alex Kitata has completed the transfer from Gaddafi FC to BUL.
The experienced striker joins the Eastern Giants on a two-year contract to bolster the forward line. He scored eight goals in 26 league appearances for the Soldier Boys last campaign, helping them avoid relegation to finish 11th.
On becoming a BUL player, Kitata said:
“I am thrilled to join one of the best teams in the country. My primary role is to score goals and I believe if we work together as a team, we shall score lots of goals and win more games.”
Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said:
“As much as I have an experienced forward in Ssekamatte, I wanted to add on another experienced striker, and that is Kitata. I think with the help of the young lads around, and the experience of Ssekamatte and Kitata, we shall get good results.”
“I looked at his experience and the work rate, and he knows where to put the ball.”
“He scored eight goals last season, and where he is now, there are midfielders who can feed him well. And with the playing style we are going to adopt, I think he will give us good goals and I expect much from him.”
A pacey striker and proven goal scorer, Kitata brings huge pile of experience to BUL having played for The Saints, SC Villa, Kitara, UPDF (two spells) in the Uganda Premier League. He also featured for Rwandan side Kiyovu Sports Club on a short stint.
BUL Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of defender Nicholas Mwere.
The 22-year-old left back joins from Busoga United and has signed a three year contract with the Eastern Giants.
Nicholas Mwere (left} has re united with coach Abbey Kikomeko
One of the highly rated young defenders in Uganda, Mwere played for JIPRA in the secondary schools competitions and Kakira Town Council in the lower divisions of Jinja district at a tender age before he moved to Busoga United in 2021 where he played for the last two seasons in the Uganda premier league.
He is bully and a rock solid young player who often frightens strikers.
BUL FC head coach, Abbey Kikomeko Bogere, said:
“When you look at the backline of our team, we had a loophole on the left side. So, I opted for Mwere.”
“I looked at his height, and his work rate. He is a young player and a promising defender.”
“I expect him to become a better defender now that he has joined BUL.”
Nicholas Mwere said:
“I am excited to join BUL FC, the Eastern Giants.”
“BUL is a winning team, they recently won the Uganda cup and I expect to win with them more titles.”
“I will try to defend better as well as attack at the same time to help the team achieve its targets. We are going to work together and win together.”
BUL FC has today parted ways with five more players, including two junior team graduates.
Owen Mukisa (in red) captained BUL FC in a Uganda cup semi final against Express
Paul Ssekulima joined the Eastern Giants in January 2023 but both parties have agreed to end the contract on mutual terms.
Aggrey Madoi is another player set to leave the club. Since 2020, Madoi has been one of the vital pillars at the team, helping BUL reach the first ever Uganda cup final in 2021 before playing a key part as the Eastern Giants won the competition a year later.
Our junior team graduates – Edrine Cavan Mawerere, Herbert Onyango and Owen Mukisa have also left the club. The latter shone to fame when he became the youngest player ever to captain the Eastern Giants and also scored a 26th minute goal against Express to send BUL to the Uganda Cup final in 2021 at FUFA Technical Centre.
We highly appreciate their efforts and commitment to the club; and wish them the best in their future endeavors.
BUL FC has completed the signing of Lawrence Tezikya from Vipers SC, with the striker penning a two year contract with the Eastern Giants.
Tezikya’s career in first-team football started at Busoga United, having risen through the youth ranks at Jinja SS.
Coach Abbey Kikomeko and Lawrence Tezikya have re united at BUL
The 22 year old striker made his senior club debut in the 2018/19 season when he came on as substitute during the Uganda premier league barren draw against Maroons FC at the Mighty Arena in Jinja city. He scored five goals in eight appearances that campaign.
He then earned a move to Vipers in 2020 before he secured a loan transfer to Maroons last season.
“Tezikya is one of the strikers I have looked at. He is still young, has passion for the game and he is promising,” head coach Abbey Kikomeko said.
“He is a kind of a player who wants to prove that he can be one of the best top strikers in the country.”
“I expect so much from him and I believe he will deliver.”
“He performed well in the previous schools tournaments and he has been gradually developing and improving. So I saw that when I bring him at BUL to compete with his former teammates like Joel Madondo, the club will benefit.”
“I expect to see good goals and fantastic performances from their partnership. They have been together, they have worked together before and they know each other very well.”
Nicknamed ‘Enzo,’ Tezikya helped Jinja SS win the Copa Coca-Cola schools championship in 2017, and emerged as the competition’s top scorer in 2018 and 2019. He is also a product of the FUFA juniors league.
BUL FC has completed the signing of Joel Madondo from Gaddafi FC.
The forward has signed a one year renewable contract with the Eastern Giants.
Coach Abbey Kikomeko (left) with new signing Joel Madondo (right)
Madondo arrives at BUL with a lot of experience in the Uganda premier league after featuring for Busoga United and Gaddafi where he played over two stints. He scored one goal last season.
Following extraordinally performances and excellent goal poaching prowess at Busoga United, Madondo moved to Wydad Casablanca in January 2020 but mutually left the Morocco giants seven months later to return home, before he had another short trade across the borders with Tanzania second division club Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) in January 2022.
He guided Uganda Cranes to the CECAFA senior challenge cup title in 2019 when he scored an important goal in the 3-0 win over Eritrea at Lugogo.
He is also a Copa Coca Cola winner with Jinja SS in 2017.
