When Mengo FC’s Abdul Karim walked off the court after the final game of the season, he wasn’t just thinking about the double his team won.
He was calculating rent, training gear, and whether he could finally afford to turn down a side hustle.
“Before the Locker Room Bonus, futsal was just a passion, something we squeezed in after jobs.”
“Now, with every win, I earn UGX 95,000. I can pay rent. I can train full time. I can live like a professional,” said Karim, smiling after a dominant league-and-cup double with Mengo FC.
That sentiment echoes across Uganda’s futsal scene, as players and coaches alike feel the tangible impact of betPawa’s groundbreaking Locker Room Bonus (LRB) initiative.
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The model, simple yet powerful, rewards teams with UGX 1,235,000 for every win, divided among 13 players and 3 technical staff.
For the average player, it means UGX 95,000 per victory.
In a league where commitment used to come at a personal cost, LRB is changing lives.
More Than Just a Bonus: A Game Changer
Introduced by betPawa as part of their over UGX 300 million investment into the 2024/25 Futsal Super League, the LRB program paid out UGX 232 million in win bonuses alone.
And for players, this isn’t just financial, it’s motivational.
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“Every match feels like a final now,” said Park FC’s Joshua Aziku, who led his team to a dramatic 7–6 Super Cup win over Mengo FC.
“We fight harder knowing we’re not just playing for pride. We’re playing for our pockets, for our families, for a future in futsal.”
That future is looking brighter. The bonus structure has not only increased player earnings but has also created a ripple effect, improved training attendance, reduced off-season dropout, and heightened competitiveness across the league.
From Part-Time Hustle to Full-Time Focus
For young players like Abdulkarim Tebera, a Mengo FC player said that ahead of the Women’s Futsal League debut next season, the financial transformation is inspirational.
“As men we get paid for every win. I know it will break into the women’s league for the women to build careers, to support their families.”
That’s exactly what FAU Chairman Hamzah Jjunju wants to see. At the season finale, he announced the upcoming Women’s Futsal League, a historic step toward gender equity in the sport.
“With betPawa’s support, we’re not just running a league. We’re building futures, for men and now, for women too.”
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Mengo FC: Proof of the Model
Mengo FC’s historic double win, the league and the Uganda Cup, earned them UGX 4.5 million in prize money, on top of cumulative Locker Room Bonuses.
Players who featured regularly netted well over UGX 1 million across the season from bonuses alone.
“This season, I saved money for the first time,” said Mengo FC’s John Musasizi.
“Not just pocket change, real savings. That’s the betPawa effect.”
Beyond Futsal: A New Era in Ugandan Sport
betPawa’s influence stretches beyond the court. They also sponsor the National Basketball League and the Uganda Women’s National Basketball Team (The Gazelles).
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But futsal may be their most grassroots success story yet.
“We want to professionalize sport from the ground up,” says Ivy Nyonyozi Igunduura, Regional Manager for betPawa East Africa.
“The Locker Room Bonus is not a handout, it’s an investment in ambition.”
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Key Stats from the 2024/25 Futsal Season
• UGX 232M+ paid in Locker Room Bonuses
• UGX 1,235,000 earned per team per win
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• UGX 95,000 average per player per win
• UGX 4.5M prize money earned by Mengo FC
• UGX 1M Super Cup bonus claimed by Park FC
• UGX 500K awarded to each of five Team of the Season players
• UGX 300M+ total investment from betPawa into futsal
As players look toward the 2025/26 season, and the launch of the Women’s League, one thing is clear.
The Locker Room Bonus has redefined what it means to play futsal in Uganda.
“For the first time,” says Muluya Abasi, “I’m not just playing for passion. I’m playing for my future.”