In a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign, Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC have opened talks to re-sign experienced defensive midfielder and Ugandan international Taddeo Lwanga, Footy Africa has exclusively learned.
Lwanga is set to become a free agent on June 30 when his contract with Rwandan giants APR FC expires. The midfielder and APR opted not to renew the deal after a breakdown in negotiations, reportedly due to a strained relationship between both parties.
According to an exclusive source at Vipers, the club has already made contact with Lwanga and tabled a two-year contract offer. If the transfer is finalized, it would mark a return to the club for Lwanga, who previously captained Vipers between 2017 and 2019.
“It’s no longer a secret that Lwanga will leave APR, and now there are ongoing talks to have him return to Vipers. The only challenge is that Vipers want to sign him on a two-year contract, while the player prefers a one-year deal. There’s hope that an agreement will be reached in the coming week,” the source exclusively told Footy Africa.
During his first stint with Vipers, the 31-year-old was instrumental in guiding the club to the Uganda Premier League title in the 2017/18 season. Lwanga has also played for top clubs across the continent, including Simba SC in Tanzania, Tanta SC in Egypt, and Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti.
Meanwhile, Lwanga remains an influential figure in the national team setup. The midfielder played a key role in helping Uganda secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the 2021 and 2023 editions. He was also a standout performer during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where the Cranes reached the Round of 16. He has earned 26 caps for the Uganda national team.
