The SC Villa family mourns the passing of Ismael Kigozi, one of the most naturally gifted and fluid forwards to grace Villa Park in the early 2000s. A player blessed with rare pace, effortless balance, fearless improvisation, and the versatility to shine both wide and centrally, Kigozi embodied everything the Jogoos stood for during one of the club’s golden eras.
Before joining the most decorated club in the land, Kigozi had already demonstrated flashes of brilliance at Masaka LC, where his sharpness and bold attacking style inspired their memorable promotion push in 2000. By the end of the 2001 season, his talent had ripened—and it was only fitting that SC Villa, the home of excellence, came knocking.
When Kigozi arrived at Villa Park in 2002, he stepped into a star-studded dressing room. Yet from day one, he looked every bit a Jogoo. He fit seamlessly into the rhythm, becoming an immediate influence and a source of attacking aggression that matched the club’s ambitions.
That year, SC Villa delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in Ugandan football history—clinching the 2002 domestic double (Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup). And Kigozi was not just part of the squad; he was part of the formula. His goals, width, trickery, and destabilizing movement were crucial threads woven into the success of that iconic season.
His name also lives in Jogoo folklore thanks to the April 6, 2002 incident—his controversial strike against Kasese Town Council. While the opposition insisted it had gone in through the side netting, the referee stood firm. The goal stood. The Jogoos marched on. And Kigozi’s fearless play earned him another unforgettable page in the club’s story.
In 2003, he remained a vital cog in SC Villa’s attacking machine, helping defend the league title and playing his part in the club’s triumphant 2003 CECAFA Club Championship, a moment that cemented Villa’s regional supremacy.
Midway through the 2004 season, his journey at Villa Park took an abrupt turn when he disappeared from the squad and later resurfaced in Rwanda. The club disciplined him for going AWOL, and shortly after, he formally joined Atraco FC—bringing his Jogoo chapter to a close.
Kigozi later returned to Uganda in 2007 to feature for URA FC, carrying with him the experience and polish shaped during his time under the bright lights of Villa Park.
Today, 17 November 2025, we say goodbye to a player who gave the Jogoos unforgettable moments, raw excitement, and contributions that helped define an era.
Burial program of Ismael Kigozi
Senior will be laid is tomorrow at his ancestral home in Ddeggeya off Bombo Rd (Luwero District)at 4PM
From Villa Park to eternity—
Once a Jogoo, forever a Jogoo.
REST IN PEACE ISMAEL KIGOZI
