Kampala, Uganda: The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has granted top-tier club licences to eight Uganda Premier League clubs while rejecting applications from five others after they failed to meet mandatory requirements ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The decisions were reached by the First Instance Body (FIB) Club Licensing Committee during its meeting held on July 21 and 22, where members assessed club applications and proposed match venues in accordance with the FUFA Club Licensing Regulations.
Express FC, Lugazi FC, UPDF FC, and newly promoted sides Kataka FC and Blacks Power FC were denied licences after failing to upload all the mandatory club licensing requirements. FUFA has given the affected clubs until Monday, July 27, to lodge appeals before the FUFA Licensing Appeals Committee.
Eight clubs successfully met all the mandatory, obligatory and best-practice requirements and were awarded Category One Club Licences. They are KCCA FC, Vipers SC, NEC FC, SC Villa, URA FC, Police FC, Kigezi HomeBoyz FC and Ntugasaze FC.
Meanwhile, Kitara FC, Entebbe UPPC FC, Maroons FC, BUL FC and Mbarara City FC were issued Category Two Club Licences after satisfying all mandatory requirements but falling short of some best-practice criteria. FUFA directed the clubs to address the outstanding issues communicated to them by August 15.
According to FUFA, the club licensing process evaluates clubs across five key areas: sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal, and financial standards required to participate in its competitions.
The football governing body also rejected eight proposed venues for the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League season. The stadiums not approved are MTN Omondi Stadium, Bugonga Fisheries Ground, Royals Park Butema, Kigezi Al-Madina Stadium, Mbale City Stadium, Ebenezer University Playground, Luzira Prisons Ground and Bombo Barracks Playground.
FUFA has instructed clubs whose home grounds failed to secure approval to identify alternative venues for their league matches by July 30.
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