Articles by Ismael Kiyonga

Technology

BUL’s unbeaten run faces test against Express at Fufa Technical Centre

Thursday Oct 30, 2025 BUL vs Express – Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru 4pm Kitara vs Lugazi – Royal Park Butema 4pm BUL’s unbeaten run in the premier league since the beginning of the year comes under scrutiny when they host Express at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru on Thursday. The Jinja based side are on a 21-unbeaten run in 2025 and during this run, they have won 15 matches and held six times. During that run, one of the beaten sides is Express FC 2-0 at Nakivubo with an own goal from Emmanuel Wasswa and Pascal Ngobi strike in February. In the absence of suspended head coach Abbey Kikomeko and assistant Simeon Masaba who is away with the Uganda National U-17 team that is world Cup bound, James Magala remains in charge. They come into the game on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 win over Buhimba United Saints which moved them within a point of table summit. A win against the Red Eagles at Njeru will see them climb to the top of the standings. Meanwhile, the Badru Kaddu’s charges are winless in their past three league matches since the 1-0 victory over UPDF on match day one. Karim Ndugwa, Seiri Arigumaho and Jerome Kiirya will be vital for the hosts who are second on 8 points while the visitors will hope forwards Richard Basangwa, Muhamad Ssenoga and Rashid Kawawa are at their lethal best. Elsewhere, Kitara host Lugazi at Royal Park Butema with the hosts targeting successive wins following their victory over Mbarara City in their last outing. Other match day five fixtures Friday Oct 31, 2025 Buhimba Saints vs SC Villa – Royal Park, Butema 4pm KCCA vs Calvary – MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo 8pm Saturday Nov 1, 2025 Entebbe UPPC vs Vipers – Bugonga Fisheries Ground 4pm Mbarara City vs NEC – Rwamwanje stadium, Kamwenge 4pm

Technology

Unanswered questions as UPL reverts to the traditional double round-robin format

On Saturday, Fufa President Moses Magogo, flanked by UPL chairperson Arinaitwe Rugyendo, 2nd VP Dr Azah Taibu, Fufa CEO Edgar Watson, and Lugazi FC proprietor Abdul Kawuulu, announced that the Premier League would revert to the traditional double round-robin format for the ongoing 2025/26 season. The decision followed mounting pressure from different stakeholders, mainly the fans and Vipers who rejected the format as well as reforms in their entirety. A widely welcomed decision by the football fraternity, however, left some unanswered questions that Fufa and the UPL will need to expound. Fufa club funding, locker room bonuses, MoM, etc. In one of the engagements with the clubs at Serena Hotel over a month ago, Magogo told UPL club chairpersons that the proposed 3.4 billion would only be available if they accepted the now-abandoned format. In fact, it is alleged that many were coerced into accepting the format on this condition, as it was literally a bait for acceptance. The fund was meant to increase the prize money, 80 million grant to all clubs, locker room bonuses for winning teams starting with the second round, man of the match as well as Technical Match Officers facilitation for every match. Already, clubs had received Shs. 25 million as part of the package and now the question is, with reversion to the ‘old format’, what happens to the funding? Kawowo Sports’ sources state that during Saturday’s meeting between clubs and Fufa attended by 11 of them, SC Villa President Omar Mandela raised the issue and requested Fufa to maintain all the financial gains that had been attached to the earlier proposed format. In response, Magogo remained indecisive, telling clubs that a decision would be taken after consultation with the finance department. “FUFA will trial the proposed split league system in one of the lower division competitions, to evaluate its feasibility before any future adoption at the top level.” With the format set to be trialled in a lower league as suggested for this season, will the money be transferred? If so, what happens to the money already sent to the clubs as part of this? We wait to see. Promotion and relegation numbers With the three-phase format, Fufa had stated under regulations that two teams will be relegated from the Premier League and four promoted to increase the number to 18 for the 2026/27 season in order to balance the third round. Article 17 of the Fufa competitions regulations reads; 1) Promotion and Relegation will only provide eligibility for FUFA Club Licensing for a club to play in a respective football competition. 2) At the end of the 1st Division League season, the top fourteen (14) clubs of the final table standing shall be eligible for FUFA Club Licensing for 1st Division League for the following season and the rest of the club(s) will be eligible for FUFA Club Licensing for 2nd Division League for the following season. 3) At the end of the season, four (4) clubs from the 2nd Division League shall be eligible for FUFA Club Licensing for 1st Division League for the following season. With Fufa only temporarily suspending Rules 14.4 to 14.12 of the FUFA Competition Rules 2025 for this season, does that make every other provision in place include article 17.1 to 17.3? What happens to the Kitara – Vipers flopped match? With Fufa confirming that the league will proceed with matches played before the pronounced counting, what happens to the Kitara vs Vipers that never happened with the Venoms’ stance? First, the Venoms were within their rights not to play, especially after writing to the relevant authorities more than 48 hours before the game and second, they literally said they are not part of the league with the format. But Kitara showed up with the match officials and did all the matchday rituals. Besides, there are expenses spent by the Royals of Bunyoro to cater for a match day. This leaves the Uganda Premier League secretariat on the spot with a decision that must come as soon as possible. Vipers fixture schedule As we enter match day four for most of the teams, Vipers are yet to play any match. Why? Their stance on featuring in the earlier proposed format and, of course, their participation in the Caf Champions League. Their fixtures against Villa, Calvary and UPDF all fell into their Caf schedule while they were a no-show against Kitara. Now, the champions must be ready for a fixture pile-up but first, let the UPL secretariat make their schedule communicated.