Farouk Miya has completed an emotional return to Vipers SC, ending a 10-year journey across European football by rejoining the Uganda Premier League champions ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a two-year contract with the Venoms and is expected to link up with his new teammates immediately as they prepare for the CECAFA Kagame Cup in Kigali, Rwanda, before turning their attention to defending their domestic crown and competing in the CAF Champions League.
Miya’s return marks a full-circle moment for both player and club.
He first rose to prominence at Vipers between 2013 and 2016, establishing himself as one of the country’s most exciting young stars. During that spell, he scored 20 goals to inspire the club to its maiden Uganda Premier League title while sweeping several individual accolades that cemented his status as one of Uganda’s finest talents.
His outstanding performances earned him a high-profile move to Belgian side Standard Liège in January 2016, with reports placing the transfer fee between $400,000 and $500,000—one of the biggest transfers involving a Ugandan player at the time.
Over the next decade, Miya built an extensive career abroad, featuring for clubs in Belgium, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece. Alongside his club exploits, he remained a key figure for the Uganda Cranes, amassing 79 international caps and scoring 23 goals while representing the country at major continental competitions.
His arrival is another major statement of intent from Vipers, who have been busy strengthening their squad ahead of a demanding season under newly appointed French coach Denis Lavagne. The club has already added several new faces as it looks to challenge for silverware on every front.
The timing of Miya’s return could hardly be better.
Vipers head to Rwanda for the CECAFA Kagame Cup before embarking on campaigns in the Uganda Premier League, Stanbic Uganda Cup and CAF Champions League, with expectations high that the experienced midfielder will provide creativity, leadership and a winning mentality to an already formidable squad.
For Vipers supporters, the return of one of the club’s greatest modern stars is more than just another signing, it’s the homecoming of a player whose journey began in Kitende and whose next chapter will once again be written in the famous red and black.