Let’s embrace the Uganda Premier League reforms

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has unveiled sweeping reforms to domestic competitions, with a sharp focus on restructuring the Uganda Premier League (UPL) as part of its Technical Master Plan.

The aim is clear: to make Ugandan football more competitive, financially sustainable and attractive to fans and sponsors. While some clubs have voiced concerns, others see the changes as a long-overdue chance to push the game forward.

HOW THE NEW FORMAT WORKS

The league will now unfold in three phases. In Round One, all 16 teams play each other once (15 matches per club), after which the table splits in two. In Round Two, the top eight teams form Group 1, and the bottom eight form Group 2.

Each group plays home-and-away fixtures (14 matches per club). In Round Three, the top six from Group 1 move into the title-deciding pool, while the seventh and eighth in Group 1 join the top two from Group 2 for placement matches.

The bottom six fight for survival in Group 5. At the end of the season, points from rounds Two and Three determine the final standings. The top team in Group 3 is crowned champion.

The bottom two from Group 5 are relegated, while a playoff between the 14th-placed side and the 3rd team from the Fufa Big League decides the final spot. By 2026/27, the UPL will expand to 18 teams.

MORE THAN JUST A FORMAT CHANGE

Fufa has more than quadrupled the prize money, from Shs 128 million to Shs 532 million, signalling a real commitment to financial growth. Clubs will also be required to submit both sporting and business data to inform decision-making—an effort to professionalize operations off the pitch.

The reforms are designed to create more competitive matches, boost fan engagement, and strengthen the league’s commercial appeal. They also emphasize discipline: yellow cards won’t carry over between rounds, but accumulated cautions leading to suspensions will still apply.

ADDRESSING CONCERNS

Fufa insists the reforms are not being forced on clubs, but discussed openly.

“Football matters and challenges can never be solved by stage-managing media interviews to give one side of the story,” Fufa president Moses Magogo said.

“We shall keep engaging all stakeholders, including the fans and media. We need all of them to make this a success.”

The federation acknowledges differing opinions among clubs but stresses that reforms require patience, dialogue and unity. By keeping clubs, fans and the media informed, Fufa hopes to build trust and foster shared ownership of the league’s future.

TURNING POINT FOR UGANDAN FOOTBALL

If implemented well, these reforms could be transformative. More competitive games mean more excitement for fans. Bigger prize money and stricter business requirements can drive professionalism.

And by aligning sporting ambition with financial sustainability, the UPL could finally grow into a product strong enough to compete regionally—and attract serious sponsorship. The road ahead will not be smooth, but the direction is promising.

By embracing the reforms and working together, Ugandan football can seize this moment to turn its potential into lasting progress.

The author is Fufa’s communications director