The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (UPL) has announced new club licensing regulations ahead of the 2026/2027 Uganda Premier League season.
The amendments, approved by the FUFA Executive Committee following consultations with Uganda Premier League club chairpersons earlier this month, introduce stricter financial, technical and administrative requirements for all topflight clubs.
Among the key changes is a mandatory requirement for club owners to sign legally binding guarantees committing to pay players and coaches in full and on time.
Beginning July 1st, 2026, all salaries and sign-on fees for players and coaches must be paid through official bank transfers from club accounts.
FUFA says clubs that fail to clear salary arrears or provide proof of payment risk transfer bans, while club owners found responsible for unpaid dues could be barred from owning clubs in future.
As earlier reported:
•FUFA demands CAF A for UPL Assistant Coaches
•Transfer bans loom as FUFA tackle non-payments
The federation has also directed all Uganda Premier League clubs to operate a women’s football team starting with the 2026/2027 season.
In another major reform, all clubs will be required to own and operate a FUFA-licensed G2 academy as part of efforts to strengthen youth talent development.
FUFA has further announced that beginning January 2027, every Uganda Premier League club must appoint a full-time Technical Director.
In addition, while both head coaches and assistant coaches will be required to possess CAF A coaching qualifications, although some assistant coaches with CAF B licences will be granted a grace period.
The new regulations also require clubs to appoint certified safety and security officers, maintain verified X and TikTok accounts, operate official domain email addresses and keep audited financial records.
The mandatory provisions for the 2026/2027 Club Licensing in details:
- Payment of Players and Coaches
1.All clubs shall submit a formal Letter of Guarantee, duly signed by the Club Owner(s), which provides a binding legal commitment to ensure the timely and full payment of all players and coaches, as stipulated in their respective contracts, by the end of the season.
- Failure to comply with this guarantee or the discovery of any overdue payables by the end of the season will result in the Club Owner(s) not being eligible to own a club going forward.
- With effect from 1st July 2026, all payments for sign-on fees and salaries for players and coaches SHALL ONLY be made by bank transfer from the official club bank account to the beneficiary bank account.
- Clubs shall be required to submit verified Proof of Payment for all players and coaches by the following dates:
•30th September
•31st December
•31st March
•30th June
- Clubs that will have defaulted with the submission of proof of payment or the discovery of any overdue payables by the beginning of a transfer window shall not be allowed to register new players in that transfer window.
- Technical Director
Effective 1st January 2027, all UPL Clubs must appoint a full-time Technical Director in compliance with the Club Licensing Regulations. The Technical Director shall be responsible for overseeing the club’s overall technical development.
- Coaches
Both the Head and Assistant Coaches of each club SHALL hold at least a CAF A Coaching Diploma. A grace period shall be provided for CAF B Assistant Coaches whose current FUFA-registered employment contracts are still valid
- Safety and Security Officer
Each club must appoint a qualified Safety and Security Officer. This officer must have a FUFA Safety and Security certification and shall be responsible for overseeing all matters related to Safety and security management at the club’s home ground.
- Women’s Team
- Pursuant to Circular No. 1177 and a follow-up letter dated 29th July 2025, effective 2026/2027 Season, every Uganda Premier League (UPL) club is required to operate a Women’s Football team.
- The Women’s Team operated by the UPL Club shall:
Compete in the 2026/7 FUFA Women’s Super League or the 2026/7 FUFA Women’s Elite League for the clubs that played in the UPL for the 2025/6 Season
Compete at least in the FUFA Women’s Regional League for the Clubs promoted to the UPL for the 2026/7 Season
Either be owned as a fully structured women’s team under the club’s own badge and financing, or as a partnership with an existing Women’s Football Club
Host their FUFA Competitions home matches at the same venue as their respective UPL Clubs. For the avoidance of doubt, both Women’s Teams owned by UPL Clubs and those in partnerships shall host their FUFA Competitions home matches at the same venue as their respective UPL Clubs.
- For the 2028/2029 Season:
FUFA shall establish the Uganda Women’s Premier League (UWPL), composed solely of women’s teams owned by UPL Clubs.
Subject to other relevant regulations, ONLY Clubs that own a Women’s Team for the 2026/7 Season, as a fully structured women’s team under the club’s own badge and financing, shall represent Uganda in CAF Club Competitions.
- FUFA G2 Academy
All UPL clubs shall own and operate a FUFA-licensed G2 Academy to ensure professionalized talent identification and sustainable Elite player development at the club level.
- Official Club Domain Email Address
All clubs shall possess and actively operate an official club domain email address (e.g.,info@clubname.ug or secretary@clubname.com).
- Verified Social Media Accounts
All UPL clubs shall possess and actively operate verified social media accounts on X and TikTok.
- Club Official Colours
All UPL Clubs shall submit the official primary, secondary and tertiary colours with the respective RGB Colour Numbers of the club at the beginning of the Club Licensing Window.
- Financial Statements
- Effective 1st July 2026, each club SHALL be required to record all financial transactions related to the club’s income and expenditure to enable FUFA to conduct an audit review of the Financial Statements for the 2026/2027 financial period. This will provide a true and fair view of the club’s financial position.
- A club shall be denied a license for the 2027/2028 season if it fails to record all financial transactions for the 2026/27 period, thereby making it impossible for FUFA to conduct a mandatory audit or review of its financial statements.
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