Africa-Press – Uganda. Vipers Sports Club have once again proven their strength not only in competition but also in commerce, emerging as the top-earning team in merchandise sales during the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season.
The club, based in Kitende, generated an impressive Shs400 million from shirt sales alone, according to the league’s latest financial and performance report.
This windfall comes on the back of a successful season in which Vipers clinched the league title with 69 points, narrowly edging NEC by two points.
The combination of on-field success and aggressive brand marketing appears to have paid dividends for the club.
Vipers also posted strong fan engagement figures, boasting the second-highest average matchday attendance at 2,000 fans per game.
Their most attended fixture of the season was a high-stakes clash against KCCA, which attracted an estimated 15,000 spectators—one of the highest single-match attendances of the campaign.
KCCA followed in merchandise sales with approximately Shs187 million in shirt revenue, while Kitara came in third with Shs80 million. Traditional giants SC Villa earned about Shs50 million from shirt sales, placing fourth.
Although they trailed in merchandise revenue, Kitara FC dominated the league in home crowd numbers, recording an average attendance of 2,500 fans per match—surpassing even Vipers in that regard.
The figures reflect Kitara’s growing grassroots support and consistent home form throughout the season.
On the pitch, Vipers’ midfielder Allan Okello was the undisputed standout performer, finishing the season with 19 goals and four assists.
URA’s Ian Ahimbisibwe followed closely with 16 goals and three assists, capping off a competitive year for attacking midfielders in the league.
The report further underscores Vipers’ growing stature as Uganda’s most successful football brand, blending strong performance with strategic fan engagement and commercial acumen.
Football analysts suggest that Vipers’ merchandise success is partly due to their aggressive marketing on digital platforms, fan-centric campaigns, and a wider distribution of replica kits across the country.
The club’s ability to connect with both urban and rural fanbases appears to be a key driver of their off-pitch revenue.
The UPL’s growing focus on club branding and commercial performance reflects a shift toward professionalising the league, with club merchandise sales now playing a significant role in team sustainability.
With Vipers leading the way in this area, other clubs are expected to follow suit in future seasons by investing more in fan engagement, online retail, and club branding to boost revenues.
As the 2025/26 season approaches, Vipers are likely to build on this momentum, both to defend their title and expand their commercial dominance in Ugandan football.
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