The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has taken a firm stance in its latest push for the development of women’s football in Uganda, announcing that starting with the 2026/27 season, all Uganda Premier League clubs must fully own and operate women’s football teams to be eligible for licensing.
This new rule marks a significant shift from the current season’s arrangement, which allowed clubs to partner with existing women’s teams.
For the ongoing 2025/26 season, clubs without their own women’s teams have been permitted to collaborate with established women’s clubs. For example, KCCA FC has partnered with Kampala Queens, SC Villa works with St. Noa, and Vipers SC has an arrangement with Kawempe Muslim.
However, FUFA’s new mandate puts an end to these partnerships for the upcoming season.
The new regulation requires that all top-flight clubs own and manage their own women’s teams, integrated as a core part of the club structure. Clubs failing to meet this requirement will face serious consequences, including being ineligible to participate in the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League season.
“This is a big burden on us,” said one anonymous Uganda Premier League club CEO, reflecting the pressure many clubs are feeling ahead of the deadline. “We are aware of the rules, and we wrote to the Federation explaining our challenges. We await for them to make it official and maybe ask for another meeting with the people in Mengo,” the CEO added.
FUFA has made it clear that the women’s teams must be fully integrated into the men’s parent club, with the women’s team bearing the name of the men’s team, like “Vipers Women,” for instance.
Marion Serenge and Kayesu Yusta earned Player of the Match honours with decisive goals for their teams.
Serenge struck in the 75th minute to give St Noa Girls FC a 1-0 win over Kampala Queens WFC, while Kayesu scored in the 56th minute as Rines SS WFC secured a 1-1 draw against… pic.twitter.com/rAKWZaVTqY
— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) March 14, 2026
This integration underscores the importance of women’s football in the future of the league, while also aiming to improve its visibility and support.
To meet the requirements, the women’s teams will need to compete in either the FUFA Women Super League or the FUFA Women Elite League, depending on their performance and qualification.
Currently, only seven clubs in the Uganda Premier League, Police FC, BUL FC, Maroons FC, Express FC, UPDF FC, Buhimba United Saints, and URA FC, fully own women’s teams.
With the new regulations set to take effect next season, many clubs will need to quickly adapt and establish their women’s football divisions, a challenge that has already sparked concerns about the financial and logistical burden of such a move.
