In a sombre climax to what has been a turbulent season, Bright Stars FC have officially been relegated from the Uganda Premier League, ending their 11-year stay in Uganda’s top-tier football division.
The final blow came on Tuesday afternoon in Bombo, where a solitary goal from Joseph Jjanjali sealed a 1-0 defeat to UPDF FC.
The result, coupled with Mbarara City’s 1-0 win over Wakiso Giants at Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium, confirmed Bright Stars’ drop into the FUFA Big League, the very league they had triumphantly emerged from in 2013.
Founded in 1997, Bright Stars rose to prominence after clinching the FUFA Big League title in the 2012/13 season, earning a historic promotion to the top flight the following year.
For over a decade, they remained a fixture in the Uganda Premier League, at times punching above their weight and nurturing local talent. But in 2025, the dream finally unraveled.
The signs of decline had been evident since the onset of the 2024/25 season. The club, once hailed for its stability, began to show cracks both on and off the pitch.
Several key players, including goalkeeper Hassan Matovu, defenders Gideon Etou and Derrick Kiggundu and midfielder Joseph Marvin Youngman departed, the latter returning to Vipers SC mid-season. The squad was visibly weakened, and results soon followed the downward spiral.
Internally, governance issues crippled the club. Founding figures like Ronald Mutebi and Ahmed Hussein had taken a backseat, and financial instability grew rampant.
The reported withdrawal of Japanese funders left the team struggling to meet salary obligations. When head coach Joseph Mutyaba was sacked, no full-time replacement was appointed with technical director Ian Mutenda reluctantly stepping into the coaching void.
As the weeks went by, the results worsened. Bright Stars failed to mount a credible escape plan, managing just 16 points with three games remaining.
Tuesday’s loss sealed their fate and saw them join Mbale Heroes FC as the latest casualties of relegation.
