FUFA president Moses Magogo has called for calm and urged stakeholders to “depoliticize football” after a tense meeting on Tuesday at Serena Hotel, where 13 of the 16 Uganda Premier League (UPL) clubs approved sweeping reforms, including a new three-round league format for the 2025/26 season.
The meeting was overshadowed by the dramatic walkout of reigning champions Vipers SC, CAF representatives NEC FC, and 17-time record winners SC Villa.
Officials from the three clubs accused FUFA of intimidation, blackmail, and politicizing football.
Vipers president Lawrence Mulindwa, alongside Villa’s Omar Mandela, claimed some institutional clubs were pressured by their employers to support the reforms or risk losing their jobs.
“We thought this would be a continuation of our earlier discussions, but FUFA had their own agenda,” Mulindwa said, flanked by Mandela and lawyers Alex Luganda and Isaac Walukagga.
“Club chairmen have confessed they were intimidated. FUFA has politicized this matter, even accusing us of opposing government initiatives, which is unfair.”
Magogo, however, dismissed the claims and insisted the process was consultative.
“I don’t think we should politicize this. Football is for everyone and non-partisan,” he told reporters.
“Some members requested to leave for other commitments. We hadn’t even concluded the meeting, so calling it a storm-out is inaccurate. This isn’t about numbers; it’s about aligning minds.”
Magogo also clarified that the Shs3.4 billion attached to the reforms would come from FUFA’s sponsors and would fund the implementation of the new format, not serve as direct club sponsorship.
FUFA had earlier warned that clubs rejecting the reforms would miss out on funding and risk the federation testing the changes in lower divisions. Despite the tensions, Magogo expressed optimism that continued dialogue would resolve the impasse.
Mulindwa, however, vowed that dissenting clubs would meet soon to chart a collective way forward, signaling that the UPL reforms saga is far from over.
