The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) has convened an emergency crisis meeting after defending champions Vipers Sports Club refused to participate in the newly introduced Uganda Premier League (UPL) format, citing lack of consultation and financial risks.
The crisis erupted after Vipers boycotted a double-header fixture against Kitara on Saturday, October 4, at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Fufa had planned a high-profile opening day featuring SC Villa versus KCCA and Vipers against Kitara to boost revenue through fan engagement, but only KCCA and Villa fulfilled their fixtures, with SC Villa playing under protest.
Vipers’ refusal to participate in the new UPL format follows months of discussions and petitions to Fufa, which the club says were ignored.
In an October 2 letter to the UPL chief executive, Mulindwa accused Fufa of disrespect and blackmail, stating the club’s concerns raised in August and September received no formal response.
“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.”
SC Villa owner Omar Mandela was equally brutal in dismissing the league, saying in an October 1 letter that there was no justification for introducing the new league format "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, who said his club are only participating in the 2025/26 premier league season "under protest and duress and for the reason that it is in the interest of our playing staff and technical team", said Fufa does not mean well for the clubs.
"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," he said.
"This is unacceptable to us, and we strongly condemn it."
The 2025/26 league reforms introduce a three-round system designed to make the competition “faster, fiercer, and fairer.”
The first round is a one-leg format with all 16 clubs facing each other once. The second round splits teams into top and bottom eight groups, with home-and-away fixtures.
The final round comprises one-leg playoffs for championship and relegation positions, with the top six from Group 1 forming a new championship group and the bottom six from Group 2 battling relegation.
While FUFA argues the changes will increase competitiveness and fan engagement, several clubs—including Vipers, SC Villa, and NEC—have raised concerns over financial sustainability, revenue-sharing rules, mandatory data sharing, and a new player registration policy.
Mulindwa warned that Vipers would seek redress through all lawful football channels to protect the club’s independence.
His letter was copied to the Minister of Education and Sports, the National Council of Sports, Uganda Premier League management, sponsors, partners, and fans, signaling potential escalation.
Meanwhile, at the weekend, Vipers supremo Lawrence Mulindwa revealed that Fufa had yet to pay his club prize money for winning the Uganda Cup and the 2024/25 league championship.
The club is also awaiting refunds for air tickets used in continental competitions.
“We have not been paid the prize money; we won the league, we won the Uganda Cup. Nothing has been paid to the teams,” Mulindwa said.
With the league already underway, the dispute casts uncertainty over the smooth rollout of Uganda’s top-flight football season.
