FUFA has unveiled a series of significant reforms aimed at enhancing the competitiveness, commercial appeal, and operational professionalism of the Uganda Premier League (UPL) for the 2025/26 season.
The changes, confirmed in Circular 1204 issued on Monday, 15th September 2025, come after extensive consultations with clubs and stakeholders, reflecting a collective effort to modernize Uganda’s top-flight football.
In a statement to clubs, FUFA Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson expressed gratitude for the cooperation and input from clubs, emphasizing that the shared commitment will help transform the UPL into a stronger, more commercially viable league.
A key development under the reforms is the introduction of a medical insurance scheme for players. Effective 1st October 2025, FUFA has partnered with Case MedInsurance Ltd to provide comprehensive coverage, and all UPL clubs are required to submit details of the 25 players to be insured. This initiative demonstrates FUFA’s intent to prioritize player welfare and professionalize club operations.
Financial incentives have also been boosted to reward performance and engagement throughout the season. Prize money for the 2024/25 season has been fully disbursed, while the 2025/26 season sees a substantial increase to UGX 532 million, with awards distributed according to league positions.
Additionally, a Man of the Match award will now be selected for each of the 268 matches, with prizes increasing from UGX 100,000 in Round-1 to UGX 500,000 in Round-3. Winning teams in Rounds 2 and 3 will also receive locker room bonuses for all matchday squad members, with clubs required to submit MTN Mobile Money details to facilitate timely payment.
To further support clubs, FUFA will provide UGX 80 million in operational funding per club, distributed in three installments across the season. Fixtures have been revised to ensure fairness, with Round-1 now following a manually prepared schedule.
The league format has also been modified: all 16 clubs will play a single-leg Round-1 competition, followed by two-leg Round-2 group stages that separate the top eight and bottom eight teams. Round-3 will see three groups based on Round-2 standings, allowing for one-leg competitions that determine final rankings. Points and goals from Round-1 will not count toward the final standings, which will instead be calculated from Rounds 2 and 3.
The reforms outline clear consequences for championship and relegation. The team finishing first in the final standings will be crowned UPL champions, while clubs ranked 1st to 14th will be eligible for 1st Division licensing in 2026/27. The bottom two teams will face relegation to the 2nd Division but will remain eligible for licensing at that level.
Individual accolades, including the Top Scorer award, will consider goals scored across all rounds. Disciplinary rules regarding cautions and send-offs have been clarified to ensure consistent enforcement, with suspensions applied as mandated by FUFA competition regulations.
Through these reforms, FUFA aims to strengthen the league’s competitive integrity, incentivize excellence, and provide a professional framework that supports both players and clubs. The federation’s holistic approach reflects a commitment not only to improving football standards on the pitch but also to enhancing the league’s commercial appeal and long-term sustainability.
