The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) is earning widespread praise for its innovative reforms aimed at elevating the Uganda Premier League, despite fierce opposition from SC Villa and Vipers SC.
In a letter dated August 20, 2025, club presidents Hajji Ahmed Omar Mandela of SC Villa and Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa of Vipers SC denounced the proposed changes for the 2025/26 season as “ill-conceived, undemocratic, and an existential threat” to Ugandan football. However, the clubs’ rejection exposes their reluctance to embrace progress.
FUFA’s transformative reforms introduce a three-phase league format, a gate revenue sharing model, and updated player registration and financial rules, designed to boost competitiveness, ensure financial stability, and promote fairness across the league.
FUFA’s vision is commended for addressing critical issues like uneven revenue distribution and lack of transparency that have long plagued the sport.
The federation’s commitment to an inclusive stakeholder forum further highlights its dedication to collaboration, countering the clubs’ claims of undemocratic processes.
SC Villa and Vipers SC’s demand to suspend the reforms and retain outdated rules has drawn sharp criticism.
These two clubs, however, are prioritizing self-interest over the collective growth of Ugandan football, with their rejection of the gate revenue sharing model—labeled inefficient by the clubs—seen as a misjudgment of FUFA’s strategy to safeguard club independence while fostering sustainability.
Since 2013, FUFA President Moses Magogo has been lauded for revolutionizing the sport, and these reforms are viewed as a continuation of that legacy.
Fans and sponsors have rallied behind FUFA, with one local commentator stating, “FUFA is building a brighter future for football, while these clubs cling to the past.”
The clubs’ call for a top-down rethink is dismissed as a stalling tactic, given FUFA’s openness to dialogue.
As the federation stands firm, SC Villa and Vipers SC risk being perceived as barriers to the sport’s advancement, while FUFA’s bold leadership paves the way for a stronger, more competitive Ugandan football landscape.