Happy Boyz Kagaba’s remarkable journey in the 52nd Stanbic Uganda Cup came to a heartbreaking end on Easter Monday after a narrow 1-0 defeat to SC Villa at Kassanda Playground.

The lower-division side put up a spirited fight in front of a passionate home crowd and frustrated the visitors for long periods.

However, SC Villa eventually broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute through Andrew Otim.

A well-taken free kick by Najib Yiga was headed on by Kakande, and Otim reacted quickest to slot the ball home from close range.

The goal proved to be the difference in an otherwise tightly contested match.

With this victory, SC Villa progressed to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2017/18 season.

They now join defending champions Vipers SC, URA FC, and Kitara FC in the last four.

Kitara FC booked their semi-final spot with a comfortable 3-0 win over Express FC at Royals Park in Butema, thanks to a brace from George Ssenkaaba and a goal by Emmanuel Alex Wasswa.

Despite the defeat, Happy Boyz Kagaba earned widespread praise for their impressive run, which saw them capture the imagination of many fans as one of the biggest underdog stories of this year’s competition.

The semi-final draw is expected to be conducted soon, with the two-legged ties scheduled for May 1 to May 3, 2026.