A weekend of high drama, emotional reunions, and hard-fought victories took centre stage in Matchday 3 of the MTN Busoga Kingdom Masaza Cup – Powered by Kabode, as teams battled to gain supremacy in their respective groups. With a mix of scoreless draws, goal fests and last-minute winners, the tournament delivered another action-packed chapter.

Busiki 1-1 Butembe – Heated Stalemate Rocks Kisiki College

The headline fixture on Saturday featured a fiery Nendha group encounter between defending champions Butembe and former winners Busiki at Kisiki College, Namutumba.

For Butembe’s trio of Ivan Tewa, Owen Isabirye, and Asuman Kayondo, it was an emotional return to their former side. But their homecoming was met with a ferocious atmosphere as both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in front of a capacity crowd.

Butembe took the lead in the 10th minute, capitalising on their early territorial dominance. Ivan Nakalanga rifled a thunderous shot into the roof of the net, finishing off a well-orchestrated set-piece move involving Tewa and Kayondo.

However, the home side responded after the break. Former Busiki coach Dennis Watuke joined the dugout during halftime and helped turn the tide tactically. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute when substitute Arshraf Ssemanda pounced on a defensive lapse to level matters.

But the goal sparked chaos.

A clash in the buildup saw Busiki’s Ssemanda allegedly punch Butembe defender Obadiah Kibirige, resulting in a lengthy 15-minute stoppage and Kibirige being rushed to hospital with a head cut. Despite Butembe’s protests, the goal stood, and the match ended all square.

Post-match, Butembe’s head coach Isaac Kitakule, visibly emotional, accepted the result with mixed feelings.

“We expected the match to be this emotional given the fact that I and three of my players all came from this area. But we are happy to settle for the point; we’ll build on this before the second round,” Kitakule stated, while also insisting the equaliser should not have stood due to the foul.

On the other hand, Busiki head coach Nasibu Ndiita praised his side’s resilience.

“I am happy to see my side remain unbeaten at home. We are still leading the Nendha group with 5 points and I’m confident we’ll be stronger in the second round when a few injured key players return.”

The match also saw MTN reward fan Johnson Isabirye from Kangulumo village with a brand-new Kabode Super mobile phone after he wowed the halftime crowd by juggling a ball 28 times. Ssemanda, Busiki’s goal-scorer, took home the man of the match award and a Kabode Super phone as well.

Elsewhere on Saturday – Goals, Guts and Group Leaders

In the Bukowe group, Bugabula moved to the summit with six points after Samuel Ayebale’s lone goal sealed a 1-0 win over Luuka at Kamuli Stadium.

Mawembe group leaders Bukono put on a dominant display with a 4-0 thrashing of Bunhole Bunanhumba at Ivukula Subcounty Ground. Joel Mupere starred with a scintillating hat-trick, while Emmanuel Nabola added a fourth. Bukono now tops the group with 7 points.

Bugweri also continued their strong form, edging Budiope 1-0 at Busesa Mixed Primary School thanks to a Mark Musuk strike. They are level on points with Bukono.

Meanwhile, at Lwanyama Ground in Kamuli, Bulamogi and Buzaya played out a goalless draw in a match short on clear chances but high in tension.

Kigulu 2-1 Bukooli Namayingo – Comeback of the Weekend

The action didn’t stop there. On Sunday, Kigulu delivered a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Bukooli Namayingo in another tense Nendha group clash at Iganga Technical Institute.

Bukooli Namayingo shocked the home crowd early on when Sanya Hassan unleashed a 40-yard thunderbolt in the 9th minute to put the visitors in front. Kigulu responded with relentless pressure. Benjamin Sizomu’s pinpoint cross almost found Kiyemba Ali, who narrowly missed the equaliser before halftime.

Bukooli’s goalkeeper Ouma Samuel then attempted time-wasting tactics before the break, but new rules saw him penalised with a corner that nearly led to a goal.

The second half began with fireworks. Just two minutes in, Sizomu Benjamin capitalised on a defensive scramble to tap home the equaliser. The momentum had shifted. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Ojambo Allan turned on the style, breezing past defenders and smashing in the winner from the left side of the box.

Benjamin, who contributed a goal and assist, was deservedly named man of the match and also walked away with a Kabode Super mobile phone courtesy of MTN Uganda.

The result leaves Kigulu tied with Busiki on five points at the top of the Nendha group, though they trail on goal difference. Bukooli Namayingo sits third with three points, while champions Butembe are languishing bottom with just two points after three matches.

Looking Ahead

With all teams having completed their first-round fixtures, attention now shifts to the tournament’s organising committee, who are expected to announce the second-round fixtures later this month.

What is clear, though, is that the MTN Busoga Masaza Tournament – Powered by Kabode – is heating up. With giants faltering, underdogs rising, and emotions running high, the second round promises even more twists in this thrilling race for regional supremacy.