The winds of change are sweeping through Ugandan football as a new Uganda Premier League format has officially been passed—yet not without controversy.
NBS Sport has reported that while speaking on behalf of 13 clubs, former Kitara FC president Deo Kasozi confirmed the development following a heated resolution meeting held at Serena Hotel on Tuesday, September 9th.
Kasozi revealed that while the new format has been approved, Vipers SC, NEC FC, and record champions SC Villa are expected to join the fold.
But behind the formal announcement, emotions ran high as SC Villa president Omar Mandela could not hide his fury, questioning why intimidation and threats were used to force clubs into submission.
He disclosed that officials had been bombarded with phone calls and messages pressuring them to accept the changes.
Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, president of Vipers SC, echoed Mandela’s concerns, bluntly admitting that several chairmen were coerced into signing letters of acceptance.
“That’s where the problem is. Today the chairman is there, tomorrow he’s gone, not like us who built these clubs from the grassroots. We value what we’re doing because we want these clubs to last. But others are simply protecting their positions. If your boss tells you to accept, you have no choice but to write the letter,” Mulindwa stressed.
He further revealed that seven club officials privately confessed their disapproval, but were cornered into compliance through intimidation. Despite the tension, Mulindwa promised that stakeholders would regroup and “find a way forward.”
The new format will see the league contested across three rounds, kicking off on September 26th with a blockbuster double-header: URA FC hosting KCCA FC and Express FC clashing with Kitara FC.
