The proposed three-phase structure for the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League season may be scrapped following strong resistance from clubs during a high-level consultative meeting with FUFA at Serena Hotel, Kampala, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
FUFA had unveiled the controversial competition reform in a circular dated August 20, proposing to overhaul the long-standing league system. However, the changes quickly drew backlash from leading clubs, including record champions SC Villa, reigning titleholders Vipers SC, as well as KCCA FC and Lugazi FC. Clubs accused the federation of forcing the new structure upon them without adequate dialogue.
The growing discontent prompted FUFA President Moses Magogo and members of his executive committee to sit down with 13 of the league’s 16 clubs, two were absent but sent apologies, to deliberate on the issue.
Addressing reporters after the marathon closed-door meeting, which lasted more than three hours, Magogo admitted the federation could abandon the reforms altogether depending on further consultation outcomes.
“We have had a very good meeting. It is not easy to have club presidents in the quantities and bodies present,” he said. “And the objective was the meeting of minds on different issues, especially on competition reforms in regard to the Uganda Premier League, and we have made consensus on a number of them, which is a good thing.”
“I want to assure Ugandans that we shall have a good way forward. As the FA, we love engagements, listening but also very strong in things we believe in and to be specific, issues concerning players, gate collections, data collection and double headers have been resolved.
“And we have listened to the clubs, and I can guarantee you that either way, we may continue with the new format after the Tuesday meeting, or we may not continue with it depending on the outcome of the Tuesday meeting.”
Representing the clubs, Vipers SC president Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa hailed FUFA’s willingness to finally engage with their grievances.
“This is the first time the clubs have come together as one person to fight for a just cause. We have had a very constructive cause with the FA where we raised our concerns regarding the competition reforms for the 2025/26 season,” Mulindwa said.
“We have had a series of meetings trying to look at the new format, and we have critical concerns, but we saw it wise to solve these issues as a family as FUFA is part of the football family, is our mother body.”
Clubs urged FUFA to channel upcoming financial investments into strengthening the current format, which has largely remained unchanged since 1968, save for brief modifications in 1998 and 2005, rather than experimenting with an untested structure.
Apart from BUL FC, Buhimba United Saints, and UPDF FC, all other top-flight sides were represented at the meeting.
The final decision on whether to retain or drop the proposed reforms is expected after another round of consultations.
