Will Ugandan Football Survive FUFA-Vipers Tug of War? Crisis Meeting Called as Standoff Persists

Federation of Uganda Football Associations has sought to quell the disquiet within the country’s football after calling a crisis meeting following protests from leading clubs.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has called an emergency meeting to address a growing standoff with several top-flight clubs, including reigning champions Vipers SC, over a controversial new league structure.

The dispute escalated dramatically after Vipers boycotted their season-opening fixture against Kitara on Saturday, October 4, at Mandela National Stadium.

The club's refusal to play threw the league's high-profile launch day into disarray, which was intended to feature a double-header to maximise fan attendance and revenue. While SC Villa and KCCA played their match, Villa did so under protest.

At the heart of the conflict are sweeping reforms for the 2025-26 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season, which introduce a complex three-round system. FUFA claims the new format will make the league "faster, fiercer, and fairer," but clubs have voiced strong opposition, citing a lack of consultation and significant financial risks.

Vipers president Lawrence Mulindwa has been a vocal critic, accusing FUFA of ignoring repeated petitions from his club. In a letter dated October 2, Mulindwa condemned the federation for its handling of the situation.

"To our surprise and dismay, and with utter disrespect, we have to-date never received any formal response to the several pertinent issues raised in our petitions," Mulindwa wrote. "Instead, we have been met with social media ridicule, blackmail, rebuke and ostracization."

Top Ugandan Clubs Up in Arms New League Format

The club's grievances extend beyond the league format. Mulindwa revealed that Vipers are still owed prize money for winning both the 2024-25 league title and the Uganda Cup, as well as refunds for air travel during continental competitions.

SC Villa owner Omar Mandela echoed these frustrations, dismissing the new league structure as a self-serving move by the federation. In a separate letter, he stated there was no justification for the changes "save for selfish financial gain by FUFA that is taking away even the little that the clubs have been collecting to keep them going."

Mandela confirmed that SC Villa is participating in the season "under protest and duress," primarily for the sake of its players and staff. He sharply criticised the federation's leadership for its unwillingness to consider club perspectives.

"We specifically take issue with the federation president's persistent disregard to listening to the different views on matters that affect clubs and the dishonesty in respect to pertinent financial and organisational aspects of the league," Mandela asserted. "This is unacceptable to us, and we strongly condemn it."

Understanding the Controversial New Format

The new UPL structure unfolds in three distinct phases:

Round One: All 16 clubs play each other once in a single-leg format. Round Two: The league splits into two groups. The top eight teams compete against each other in home-and-away fixtures, as do the bottom eight teams. Round Three: The final phase involves playoffs. The top six from the championship group will vie for the title, while the bottom six from the relegation group will fight to avoid the drop.

While FUFA promotes the system as a way to boost competitiveness, clubs like Vipers, SC Villa, and NEC have raised alarms over its financial sustainability, revenue-sharing models, and new player registration policies.

With the season already underway, the escalating dispute casts a dark cloud over the future of Ugandan top-flight football.