Vipers SC president Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa has called for patience and wider consultations on the proposed Uganda Premier League reforms after a tense closed-door meeting between FUFA and 13 club presidents at Serena Hotel on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo, focused on the federation’s plan to introduce a three-round league format for the 2025/26 season, a proposal opposed by several clubs, including Vipers, SC Villa, KCCA, Kitara, and Lugazi.
Mulindwa stressed the need for inclusivity and proper sensitization before making such a major change to Ugandan football.
“This is the first time the clubs have united to fight for a just cause,” Mulindwa said.
“We had constructive discussions with FUFA, but this is a fundamental change. You can’t implement it overnight. It needs time, consultation, and the involvement of all stakeholders.”
He criticized FUFA’s approach, likening it to introducing a new tax policy without public awareness, and emphasized that while clubs support reforms, they must be handled collaboratively to avoid destabilizing the league.
Magogo acknowledged the concerns, revealing that while some issues were agreed upon, no consensus was reached on the format.
“We’ve had a very good meeting, but people view things differently,” Magogo said.
“We’ll meet again next Tuesday to decide whether to proceed with the new format or drop it.”
Clubs have also asked FUFA for more investment and prefer maintaining the current format, which has been in place since 1968, while focusing on improving competitiveness.
Despite the disagreements, both FUFA and the clubs described the meeting as productive and remain optimistic about finding common ground.
The fate of the three-round format will be decided in next week’s follow-up meeting, a decision that could shape the future of Ugandan football.
