Ugandan Premier League champions Vipers SC climbed to the top of the standings after beating Kitara 2-0 at Masindi Municipal Stadium on Friday.

A Donato Okello own goal in the first half and substitute Abubaker Lawal strike late in the second half decided the game watched by a capacity crowd.

Okello put the ball behind his net in the 12th minute after very good work by Yunus Sentamu and Lawal finished off a good team move in the 86th minute. The closest Kitara came to scoring was midway the second half but substitute Brian Aheebwa rattled the cross bar.

The reigning champions are now on 45 points, one point above now second placed Kitara with a game in hand over the Royals.

Kitara will hope to resurrect their now fading title charge on Wednesday April 24 when they visit Express at Wankulukuku while Vipers will host Maroons on April 23.

• UPL website.