Record league champions SC Villa will line up for the 2025/26 Uganda Premier League season, but the Jogoos have made it clear their participation comes under protest.
In a strongly worded letter to FUFA, Club President Hajji Omar Mandela Ahmed accused the federation of pushing through reforms that undermine clubs while prioritizing financial gain.
Villa’s anger stems from two key issues — the new league format and the revised revenue-sharing model. According to the club, both were introduced without adequate consultation and serve only to weaken already struggling sides.
“This new format should first have been tested in the lower leagues before being imposed on top-flight football,” Mandela wrote. “The changes to revenue sharing reflect pure exploitation and disregard for the private individuals who sacrifice to sustain clubs.”
The Jogoo boss further dismissed FUFA’s claims of a Shs3.4 billion financial injection into the league as misleading, describing it as a smokescreen to cover what he termed “financial exploitation.”
SC Villa also singled out FUFA President Moses Magogo for what they described as a continued lack of transparency and failure to accommodate club views on critical matters.
“The Federation President’s disregard for stakeholders and dishonesty on key financial and organizational aspects of the league is unacceptable. We strongly condemn it,” Villa’s statement added.
Despite their frustration, the 16-time champions confirmed they will fulfill their fixtures this season, albeit reluctantly, while continuing to push for reforms they believe will protect the long-term health of Ugandan football.
