The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has announced a major shake-up to the Uganda Premier League (UPL), introducing a new playing format, data regulations, player registration rules, and financial reforms starting with the 2025/26 season.
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson revealed the changes after a consultative meeting with UPL clubs, saying the move aims to improve competitiveness, boost revenues, and make the league more data-driven.
New three-round League format
The league will maintain 16 teams but adopt a three-round structure:
Round one
• All 16 teams face each other once.
• Home and away fixtures will be determined by a draw.
• The top eight teams move to Group 1, while the bottom eight enter Group 2.
Round two
• Group 1 and Group 2 play separate home-and-away formats.
• The top six in Group 1 progress to Group 3 to compete for the title.
• Group 1’s bottom two secure 7th and 8th place for the season.
• In Group 2, the top two secure 9th and 10th place, while the bottom six drop into Group 4 for relegation battles.
Round three
• Group 3 teams play once to decide the champion and positions 1–6.
• Group 4 teams play once to settle positions 11–16.
• Venues will be reversed from Round One to ensure fairness.
Championship and relegation
• The Group 3 winner is crowned UPL champion.
• Teams finishing 11th to 13th stay in the league.
• The 14th-placed team faces a playoff against the FUFA Big League’s 3rd-placed side.
• Teams in 15th and 16th are automatically relegated.
Player registration changes
From next season, only players with at least two years left on their contracts will be licensed, except those turning 31 during the season.
Mandatory data reporting
FUFA is introducing strict data submission rules:
• Clubs must file match statistics within 48 hours.
• Catapult GPS tracking will be mandatory to monitor player performance.
• Clubs must also submit business data, including matchday revenue and attendance, within 48 hours.
A new web-based data system will manage submissions, and non-compliance will attract penalties.
Fixture adjustments
Matches will now feature both single-headers and double-headers:
• Double-headers will host two matches at one venue on the same day, spaced 2–3 hours apart.
• FUFA and UPL will select which games qualify and may adjust schedules up to 14 days before kickoff.
Financial reforms
FUFA has committed 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 & Winner 2 – 5% each
If a match ends in a draw, the winner’s share goes to the home team.
FUFA’s vision
FUFA believes the new structure will make the UPL more competitive, financially sustainable, and commercially attractive.
The reforms are also expected to improve player development, fan engagement, and data-driven decision-making across the league.
