FUFA Unveils Major Reforms for the Uganda Premier League 2025/26
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has announced sweeping reforms to the Uganda Premier League (UPL), set to take effect from the 2025/26 season. The changes include a new league format, stricter player registration rules, mandatory data reporting, fixture adjustments, and financial reforms.
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson revealed the measures after a consultative meeting with UPL clubs, noting that the reforms are designed to increase competitiveness, boost revenues, enhance professionalism, and make the league more data-driven.
New League Format (Three Rounds)
The UPL will maintain 16 teams but introduce a three-round structure:
Round One
- Each team plays all 15 opponents once.
- Home and away fixtures determined by a draw.
- Top 8 advance to Group 1, bottom 8 to Group 2.
Round Two
- Group 1 and Group 2 play home-and-away fixtures.
- Top 6 in Group 1 advance to Group 3 (title race).
- Bottom 2 in Group 1 secure 7th and 8th place.
- Top 2 in Group 2 secure 9th and 10th place.
- Bottom 6 in Group 2 drop into Group 4 (relegation battles).
Round Three
- Group 3: Single round-robin decides champion and positions 1–6.
- Group 4: Single round-robin settles positions 11–16.
- Venues are reversed from Round One for fairness.
Championship & Relegation
- Group 3 winner = UPL Champion.
- Teams finishing 11th–13th remain in the league.
- 14th place faces a playoff against FUFA Big League’s 3rd-placed team.
- 15th & 16th are automatically relegated.
Player Registration Rules
- Only players with at least two years left on their contracts will be licensed.
- Exception: Players turning 31 during the season.
Mandatory Data Reporting
Clubs must comply with strict new reporting standards:
- Submit match statistics within 48 hours.
- Mandatory use of Catapult GPS tracking for player performance.
- Report business data (matchday revenue, attendance) within 48 hours.
- A new web-based system will manage submissions, with penalties for non-compliance.
Fixture Adjustments
- Matches to include both single-headers and double-headers.
- Double-headers: Two games at one venue, 2–3 hours apart.
- FUFA/UPL will select double-header fixtures and may adjust schedules up to 14 days before kickoff.
Financial Reforms
FUFA has pledged UGX 500 million in prize money and introduced a new revenue-sharing model:
Single-Header Matches
- Home Team – 85%
- FUFA – 5%
- UPL – 5%
- Match Winner – 5%
Double-Header Matches
- Home Team 1 – 35%
- Home Team 2 – 35%
- Away Team 1 – 5%
- Away Team 2 – 5%
- FUFA – 5%
- UPL – 5%
- Winner 1 – 5%
- Winner 2 – 5%
(If a match ends in a draw, the winner’s share goes to the home team.)
FUFA’s Vision
FUFA believes the reforms will:
- Improve competitiveness of the UPL.
- Enhance financial sustainability through revenue-sharing.
- Strengthen player development with performance data tracking.
- Boost fan engagement via new formats and double-headers.
- Increase commercial appeal of the league locally and internationally.