The 2025/26 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season finally kicked off last Friday, September 26, at different grounds around the country.
But four of the 16 teams in the UPL did not get their seasons underway because of Vipers SC and NEC FC’s involvement in Africa Club competitions. However, match-day two is slated for this weekend, with key among the fixtures being SC Villa v KCCA FC and Kitara v Vipers SC in a double-header at Namboole stadium on October 4.
Two of the four teams that did not play on match-day one will be in action, which is Villa and Vipers. That said, the general feeling is that once those two kick a ball, it will be a confirmation that they have given in to the new dispensation.
Rumblings
You see, it was Villa, Vipers and NEC FC that stood their ground on opposing the new league format, while the other 13 clubs caved in. However, it was reported that the 13 that agreed to Fufa’s new league format, only did it under duress, and apparent intimidation from the football-governing body.
The Villa supremo, Omar Mandela was caught on camera a few weeks ago confronting the Fufa communications officer, Ahmed Hussein, while asking him why they (Fufa) had gone ahead to intimidate club bosses through the phone calls they made.
In addition, Lawrence Mulindwa, the Vipers boss, added then that they, as club officials, had been bad-mouthed by Fufa that those opposing the new league format, were indeed opponents of the current political regime in the country.
In fact, Mulindwa decried it as dirty games that had no place in football. But this has intermittently been denied by Fufa. In fact, Ronnie Kalema, a member of the Fufa executive, said that they never did such a thing.
He added that all they did was in the book, which was discussing with all clubs about the new dispensation, which, according to Kalema, was agreed to by the majority of clubs.
New League Format or Nothing
Furthermore, Kalema noted that since the UPL has already seen one match-day played, he sees no reason why the discussions on whether the new format is right or wrong continue.
“Right now, our focus should be on the games being played. We are now past that time of debating the legitimacy of the new league format,” Kalema said.
Clear as Kalema may have been, right now, there are concerns about whether Villa and Vipers will indeed play this weekend to kick-start their season? There has not been any official response from either side to the question.
The two have kept people guessing, even though sections of football fans continue to push for the boycott of the new league.
Fans role
In response, Kalema said: “With all due respect, the fans just have to come and watch the games. While we respect their opinions, truthfully, it is just a few sections of them against the new order.”
But seeing how match-day one prevailed, Kitara FC, who have previously hosted teams like KCCA FC, Villa and Vipers and grossed over Shs 50 million, they only raised Shs 9 million last week, against KCCA, . Generally, across the different grounds, the turnout of fans was low.
In addition, there was no live TV coverage on the opening day, which was rather an anomaly. Kalema said there were a few technical hitches that made it hard for match-day one to be broadcast.
No TV broadcast?
Yet, this begged a question; for a league that ended way back in May, how is it possible that four months later, the technical hitches had not been sorted? Apparently, because of the controversy surrounding the new league format, the main broadcasters were apprehensive about going live on game day one, worried that there would be no fans in the stadia.
Notably, the worries do not seem to end there even though Kalema pledged that match-day two would have some games telecast live. That should be the arranged double-header. But word in the corridors suggests that those games may not take place, although Kalema was adamant they will.
Angry Vipers and Villa
But a source in Villa, who preferred anonymity, said the club was hurt by how they felt disrespected by Fufa. For example, he noted that when the club acquired Linglong Tyres as its shirt sponsor, there were some terms they agreed on, like the fact that they would host at least 15 league home matches every season.
It is from the home games, that the sponsor milks every moment to promote their brand at the stadium. But with the new league format, that is not possible, which affects the terms they agreed with their sponsors on.
So, could a club like Villa be determined to stay this one out until they are heard by Fufa?
Winner takes it all
Therein, however, lies a risk. Failure to honour fixtures leads to being demoted to the lower league. But, can Fufa afford to relegate either of Villa or Vipers under the circumstances? Fufa has the power to do it.
At the same time, it is something that can open a can of worms in Ugandan football. Intrinsically, this would test the powers that be on the side of Fufa and the clubs. It has been reported that the clubs have already engaged some government officials, citing oppression from Fufa.
Yet, whatever the outcome of this drama, considering that Moses Magogo, the Fufa president, in his address to some club officials last week, insisted that this format is here to stay by hook or crook, it is a make-or-break.
A win for Fufa as is already seeming, makes them stronger, while a surprise turn of the tables from Villa and Vipers on behalf of the rest of the clubs, provides a new football order on who calls the shots going forward!
About the Author
