The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has introduced sweeping reforms to the Men’s Club Licensing Regulations that will govern Uganda Premier League clubs starting with the 2026/2027 season, in a move aimed at strengthening professionalism, financial discipline, and club development structures.
The amendments, approved by the FUFA Executive Committee following consultations with club chairpersons on May 7, 2026, are designed to improve governance, infrastructure, youth development, sporting standards, and financial accountability across top-flight football in Uganda.
According to FUFA, the reforms will affect key areas including legal compliance, administration, personnel management, and financial operations, with stricter monitoring mechanisms to ensure clubs adhere to licensing standards.
Ahmed Hussein, FUFA Principal Communications Officer, said the changes are intended to promote accountability and long-term sustainability within Ugandan football clubs.
Hussein said the federation wants clubs to adopt modern management systems that ensure stability on and off the pitch, adding that improved licensing requirements will enhance player welfare, governance, and league competitiveness.
FUFA further announced that an independent professional consultancy firm will be engaged starting with the 2026/2027 season to assess club submissions, inspect facilities, and submit evaluation reports to the Club Licensing Committee for final decisions.
One of the major reforms introduces strict financial regulations requiring clubs to guarantee timely payment of players and coaches through formal Letters of Guarantee signed by club owners.
Clubs will also be required to process all salaries and sign-on fees through official bank accounts starting July 1, 2026, with quarterly proof of payment submissions scheduled for September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30.
FUFA warned that clubs with outstanding arrears or failure to provide payment proof before transfer windows will be barred from registering new players, while owners with persistent overdue payables risk future disqualification from club ownership.
Hussein said the measures are aimed at eliminating long-standing salary disputes in Ugandan football.
Under the new structure, clubs will also be required to appoint full-time Technical Directors by January 1, 2027 to oversee technical development frameworks.
Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must possess at least a CAF A Coaching Diploma, although CAF B-qualified assistants with valid FUFA contracts will be granted a grace period.
Each club will also be required to appoint a certified Safety and Security Officer to manage matchday safety standards.In a landmark reform, FUFA has made it compulsory for all Uganda Premier League clubs to establish women’s football teams beginning with the 2026/2027 season.
Existing clubs must field teams in either the FUFA Women Super League or FUFA Women Elite League, while newly promoted sides will be required to compete in the FUFA Women Regional League. Clubs may either fully own or partner with existing women’s teams, but all teams must host matches at the same venue as their respective men’s clubs.
FUFA also announced plans to establish a standalone Uganda Women’s Premier League by the 2028/2029 season, exclusively featuring women’s teams owned by Premier League clubs, with eligibility for CAF women’s competitions tied to full compliance.
Additionally, all clubs will be required to operate FUFA-licensed G2 Academies, maintain verified social media accounts on X and TikTok, and submit official club colours with RGB codes during licensing.
The federation also introduced strict financial record-keeping requirements effective July 1, 2026, mandating clubs to document all income and expenditure for audit purposes.
FUFA warned that clubs failing to maintain proper financial records during the 2026/2027 season risk being denied licenses for the 2027/2028 campaign.
SOURCE: URN
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