The curtain has officially fallen on Soltilo Bright Stars FC’s Uganda Premier League journey after a dismal 1-0 loss to UPDF FC in Bombo sealed their fate on Tuesday afternoon. Joseph Jjanjali’s decisive strike ensured Soltilo’s exit from the topflight, ending a 12-year spell that began with promise in 2013 but fizzled out in chaos and controversy.
Plagued by off-field disarray and on-pitch inconsistencies, Bright Stars stumbled through the 2024/25 season, showing early signs of unraveling. The club was hemorrhaging talent, losing key figures such as goalkeeper Hassan Matovu, defenders Gideon Etou and Derrick Kiggundu, and midfield maestro Joseph Marvin Youngman, who returned to Vipers SC in January. These exits left a skeleton squad struggling to remain competitive.
Internal governance fractures further destabilized the club, with founders Ronald Mutebi and Ahmed Hussein stepping back, while the reported pull-out of Japanese funders dealt a fatal blow to the club’s finances. Salaries went unpaid, and technical direction faltered—coach Joseph Mutyaba’s sacking led to a vacuum, only temporarily filled by technical director Ian Mutenda without a proper managerial appointment.
Tuesday’s loss, coupled with Mbarara City’s vital 1-0 triumph over Wakiso Giants—courtesy of an 82nd-minute finish from Peter Onzima—mathematically condemned Soltilo Bright Stars. With just 16 points and three matches left, their relegation became irreversible, joining fellow strugglers Mbale Heroes in the descent to the FUFA Big League.
Elsewhere, Express FC edged Kitara 1-0 thanks to Rashid Kawawa’s slick 56th-minute finish, while Maroons FC eked out a win over Police FC via Ivan Mayanja’s early goal. As the relegation picture sharpens, all eyes now turn to Wakiso Giants, who are teetering on the edge and require a miracle to stay afloat, while the race for the championship tightens with Vipers SC and NEC FC preparing for high-stakes encounters.
