Kitara FC climbed up to second place in the Uganda Premier League following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Maroons at the Prisons Grounds in Luzira on the opening day of the second round.
John Bosco Byaruhanga netted the decisive goal in the first half to separate the two sides in a tightly contested encounter.
The goal came off a set piece, with Gaddafi Wahab delivering a corner that was kept in play by Edward Namasa. Namasa rose highest to head the ball into the path of Raymond Walugembe, whose volley struck the post. Maroons defender Raymond Walugembe appeared to have cleared the ball off the goal line, but referee George Olemu ruled that it had crossed the line and awarded the goal to Kitara.
The win capped a significant day for the Hoima-based side. Kitara had started the day on 29 points but were handed three additional points by the FUFA Disciplinary Panel following a ruling in their favour concerning an unplayed fixture against Vipers SC.
Vipers failed to turn up for their October 4 fixture against Kitara at Namboole Stadium, and FUFA ruled that the Venoms forfeited the match, awarding maximum points to Kitara.
In a separate case, Kitara also survived a petition from KCCA FC. FUFA dismissed KCCA’s complaint and ruled that striker Patrick Kaddu was eligible to feature on matchday one against the Kasasiro Boys despite not appearing on the official squad list, describing the omission as a technical error.
With the victory over Maroons and the disciplinary ruling, Kitara now sit on 35 points, just one behind leaders Vipers, who are set to face BUL FC on Friday at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.