With the 2026–2027 season on the horizon, Uganda Premier League (UPL) clubs face a major decision – will they buy existing women’s teams or start their own?
The question comes after a new directive from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), which now requires all UPL clubs to fully own and run women’s football teams by 2026.
Until then, clubs can still partner with independent women’s sides but that option ends soon.
“By 2026, every UPL club must have a women’s team under its official structure,” said FUFA CEO Edgar Watson Suubi. “This is about visibility, professionalism, and competitiveness.”
Some clubs, like KCCA FC and URA FC, are already ahead of the curve. Their women’s teams are expected to compete in the FUFA Women Elite League during the transition period.
Others that rely on partnerships, like loaning their license to a women’s team must now rethink their strategy. Starting in 2027, only women’s teams fully owned by UPL clubs will be allowed in the top women’s league.
So, what’s the better route? Buying an existing women’s club can be quicker, offering ready-made talent and structures. But building from scratch gives clubs more control over style, culture, and long-term planning.
FUFA has made it clear: any club that doesn’t comply risks losing its license and its place in the league.
To help, FUFA has promised advice and logistical support, but clubs will still have to invest in coaches, infrastructure, and player development.
This move is part of FUFA’s bigger goal, to grow women’s football in Uganda and make it more professional, visible, and competitive. It’s also a step toward making women’s football an essential part of club identity and community support.
For players and fans, this signals a new chapter. The next two years will reveal which clubs invest, which take shortcuts, and how the women’s game will evolve.
By 2027, women’s football in Uganda is expected to look very different and hopefully, much stronger.
