The FUFA President, Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, has announced the suspension of the new 2025–2026 Uganda Premier League (UPL) format following extensive consultations with clubs, league sponsors and the Uganda Premier League Board.
The decision was reached and later announced during a press conference held this afternoon, following a series of meetings at FUFA House in Mengo, including a session of the FUFA Executive Committee, which agreed to temporarily suspend Rules 14.4 to 14.12 of the FUFA Competition Rules 2025 for this season.
The FUFA Executive Committee has resolved that the 2025–2026 Uganda Premier League season will revert to a double round-robin format. The matches already played under the initial split league structure will be maintained as part of the revised schedule.
The FUFA President, flanked by his 2nd Vice President Dr. Azah Taibu, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, Executive Committee members Deo Mutabazi and Issa Magoola, Uganda Premier League Board Chairman Arinaitwe Rugyendo, and Hajji Kawuulu Abdul Mwanje representing the clubs, explained that the suspension will allow all stakeholders more time to understand and appreciate the new league reforms introduced to improve pillar three – professionalisation of club football – as outlined in the FUFA Technical Master Plan launched in 2023.
‘At the start of the season, we held several consultative meetings with the clubs to explore ways of improving the league. One of our immediate objectives as FUFA is to strengthen competitions across the board, and this remains part of our broader vision to implement the Technical Master Plan.’
The FUFA President noted that the reforms were designed to increase competition, reduce the potential for match fixing, and create greater commercial value for the game.
However, he stated that the transition to the new format has presented challenges which require further sensitisation and alignment among all stakeholders.
‘Our expectation was that this would be an exciting new environment for everyone, especially as we build towards AFCON 2027,’ he added.
‘However, we have listened to the clubs, sponsors and fans, and decided to allow more time for explanation and preparation before full implementation.’
‘For this season, we shall play home and away fixtures, with all points accumulated across both rounds, similar to the previous campaign. By the end of this season, we expect to have had enough time to explain the objectives and benefits of the new format so that everyone moves in the same direction.’
He further revealed that FUFA will trial the proposed split league system in one of the lower division competitions, to evaluate its feasibility before any future adoption at the top level.
‘This position has been agreed upon by all clubs and endorsed by the FUFA Executive Committee. Our focus now is to sustain the energy around the league and push fans back to the stadiums because football is about the fans. We have listened to our clubs, sponsors and the public, and we are confident that together we shall achieve our goals.’
The FUFA President concluded by commending all stakeholders for their continued support and reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to improving football competitions at all levels.
