The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has officially reinstated the traditional double round-robin format for the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season, a decision that has reignited optimism among fans and clubs—but also raised serious concerns about the future of club funding.
During a press briefing on Saturday, FUFA President Moses Magogo—alongside UPL Chairman Arinaitwe Rugyendo, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, and other officials—confirmed the reversal of the recently introduced split-league format. The decision followed widespread opposition from fans and clubs such as Vipers SC, who argued that the system undermined competition and tradition.
However, the return to the old format has left many clubs in uncertainty regarding the Shs. 3.4 billion that FUFA had pledged to support teams under the previous structure. The package included a Shs. 80 million grant per club, locker room bonuses, and man-of-the-match awards—all tied to acceptance of the abandoned format.
While clubs have already received an initial Shs. 25 million installment, the fate of the remaining funds remains unclear. SC Villa President Hajji Omar Mandela has since appealed to FUFA to maintain the promised financial support despite the format change.
In response, Magogo stated that a final decision would be made after consultations with FUFA’s finance department. He added that the federation plans to test the split-league format in a lower-tier competition before reconsidering it for the top flight in the future.
Meanwhile, questions linger over promotion and relegation rules, as FUFA prepares to expand the UPL to 18 teams in the 2026/27 season. The suspension of certain competition regulations has left clubs unsure about how the transition will be managed.
Adding to the confusion is the unresolved Kitara vs Vipers fixture, which was postponed after Vipers objected to the previous league setup. The reigning champions are yet to play a UPL match this season due to their ongoing CAF Champions League commitments.
As the 2025/26 season kicks off, the UPL Secretariat faces mounting pressure to provide clarity on funding, competition rules, and fixture scheduling—issues that could significantly impact the league’s stability and credibility moving forward.
