Two of the country’s biggest football supporters’ associations have announced a boycott of the Uganda Premier League, protesting the new format introduced for the 2025/26 season.
The Platinum Football Fans Association Uganda Ltd and the Uganda Premier League Fans Forum jointly released a statement on Wednesday voicing “deep concern, disquiet and opposition” to the reforms pushed through by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA). The groups say they will boycott all league fixtures until their demands are addressed.
At the heart of the dispute is FUFA’s decision to replace the traditional home-and-away round-robin system with a three-phase structure: a single-leg first round, a split into groups, and final rounds.
FUFA has defended the format as modern and competitive, but fans insist it was imposed without meaningful consultation.
“Despite claims of consultative meetings, this framework appears imposed, with no space for substantive amendment or negotiation,” the statement reads.
The supporters’ associations outlined three major areas of concern. First, they argue that fans, described as the “moral owners of the sport,” were excluded from key decisions shaping competitiveness and finances.
Second, they believe the new system threatens sporting integrity, pointing to uneven home and away allocations, possible dead periods, and the resetting of points that could punish consistency. Third, they warn that new revenue-sharing rules and mandated data systems place fresh financial burdens on clubs, several of which, including Vipers SC and SC Villa, have already rejected the format.
The groups are demanding the immediate suspension of the new structure, an inclusive stakeholder forum, and a return to the home-and-away model until consensus is reached.
Their statement warns that pressing ahead without fan and club approval risks damaging the credibility and long-term sustainability of the league.
They have also appealed to government and sports oversight bodies to mediate. If FUFA does not respond, they say they are prepared to escalate through boycotts, protests, and appeals to CAF and FIFA.
