URA FC head coach Jimmy Kintu has praised his players for their resilience and determination after the Tax Collectors came from behind to defeat Maroons 2-1 in their opening Uganda Premier League fixture of the 2026/27 season.
Maroons took an early advantage through Ojok, putting URA in a difficult position. However, the Tax Collectors refused to lose belief and continued pushing for a way back into the contest.
Their persistence paid off when Galiwango restored parity before Tusubira kept his composure from the penalty spot late in the game to complete a memorable comeback and secure all three points.
Kintu: Character Was Key
Despite being pleased with the result, Kintu acknowledged that URA did not produce their best football on the day. For the coach, however, the team’s mentality and ability to remain in the contest were more important.
“It was not our best game, but the character was very good. The boys believed until the end and they showed that they are ready to fight for this team.”
Kintu believes the response to going behind is an encouraging sign of the mentality he wants to establish within the squad.
“When you go a goal down, it is easy to lose confidence, but today the boys stayed together. They kept fighting, they kept believing and eventually we got the reward. That spirit is something we must keep.”
The victory marked a positive beginning for Kintu in his role as head coach, although he knows there is still room for improvement.
“We are happy with the three points, but we know we can play much better. There are things we need to correct, especially in how we control the game. But the most important thing today was the mentality.”
Waiswa Impresses
Moses Waiswa was another standout performer for URA, earning the Man of the Match award for his influential display.
Kintu believes the experienced midfielder has an important role to play in the team’s ambitions this season and has challenged him to take greater responsibility on the pitch.
“Moses is a special talent. I always talk to him and tell him to lift himself because when he lifts himself, he lifts the whole team. We need him to believe in himself and carry the team in moments like these.”
The coach was particularly pleased with Waiswa’s contribution and believes the midfielder can become an important difference-maker for the Tax Collectors.
“When Moses is confident, you can see the difference. He has the ability to change the game, and I want him to understand how important he is to this team. Today he showed his quality, and I am very happy with his performance.”
A Winning Mentality
For URA, the comeback against Maroons provided more than just three points. It offered an early demonstration of the fighting spirit Kintu wants his side to display throughout the campaign.
The Tax Collectors showed patience after falling behind, eventually turning the game around through Galiwango’s equaliser and Tusubira’s decisive late penalty.
Kintu believes such resilience will be important over the course of a long season.
“You may not always have a perfect game, but you must always have the character to stay in the game. Today we showed that, and it gives us confidence going forward.”
Focus Turns to SC Villa
URA will now turn their attention to their next Uganda Premier League assignment against SC Villa.
The Tax Collectors will host the Jogoos at Hamz Stadium on Thursday, September 3, with Kintu looking for his side to build on the winning start.
The challenge will be to combine the determination displayed against Maroons with greater control and quality as URA look to make it back-to-back victories and maintain their positive start to the 2026/27 campaign.