NEC and Maroons march on as Stanbic Uganda Cup delivers round of 32 drama

The 52nd edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup continued to captivate on Thursday, 26th February 2026, as NEC FC and Maroons booked their places in the Round of 16 with composed and hard-fought victories.

At the Bombo Barracks Ground in Bombo, NEC turned in a disciplined and clinical performance to dispatch UPDF 2–0.

The Army side found themselves overwhelmed by NEC’s purposeful attacking play, orchestrated by the outstanding Joseph Dhata.

Dhata broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, latching onto a precise delivery from right-back Richard Basangwa, whose adventurous surge forward caught UPDF off guard.

Just before the halftime whistle, the winger struck again — this time from the penalty spot — calmly converting after being brought down himself to effectively settle the contest before the break.

Elsewhere, Maroons edged past Kumi United in a tightly contested encounter.

The decisive moment arrived in the 56th minute when Norman Odipio unleashed a ferocious long-range effort that proved enough to separate the sides.

The narrow 1–0 triumph ensured the Prison Warders’ progression to the next round.

With Thursday’s results confirmed, NEC and Maroons join an already formidable Round of 16 cast: holders Vipers, Express, Sports Club Villa, Kitara, KCCA, URA, Red Devo, Onduparaka, Happy Boys Kagaba and Iganga United.

First played in 1971, the Stanbic Uganda Cup remains the country’s premier knockout competition.

Beyond domestic prestige, the tournament carries continental weight, as its eventual winner earns the honour of representing Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Round of 32 Results

Ntugasaze 0–2 Express

Sports Club Villa 2 (4) – 2 (3) BUL

Onduparaka 0 (5) – 0 (4) Football Classroom

URA 0 (6) – 0 (5) Blacks Power

Kigezi Home Boyz 1 (3) – 1 (4) Happy Boys Kagaba

Vipers 6–0 Pajule Lions

KCCA 1–0 Mbarara City

Kitara 2–0 Entebbe UPPC

Maroons 1–0 Kumi United

UPDF 0–2 NEC