FUFA President Moses Hashim Magogo says the decision to suspend the new StarTimes Uganda Premier League format was guided by feedback from clubs, sponsors, and fans who felt the changes were rushed.
Speaking after an emergency meeting at the FUFA Complex in Mengo on Saturday, Magogo said the federation chose to revert to the old format following days of consultations with the Uganda Premier League Secretariat and representatives from 11 top-flight clubs.
“As FUFA, we have listened to the clubs and other stakeholders and agreed that we revert to the old format for this season,” Magogo said. “We will go back and make more reviews, further consultations, and get back to it next season.”
Magogo noted that the new system, introduced in August and guided by Rule 14:4–12 of the 2025 FUFA Competition Rules, had sparked widespread concern among clubs and supporters.
He said FUFA had no intention of forcing through reforms that lacked full understanding and acceptance across the football community.
“The intention of the reforms was to modernize and make the league more competitive, but it’s clear that many stakeholders needed more time to appreciate the changes. We’ll use the rest of this season to review and sensitize before reintroducing them,” he added.
The FUFA Executive Committee later confirmed Magogo’s announcement in a formal statement, emphasizing that the old home-and-away format will continue to apply for the 2025/26 season.
Magogo also stressed that other reforms introduced earlier, such as club licensing and player registration systems, will remain in place and continue to be refined through stakeholder engagement.
The decision followed weeks of unrest that saw clubs like Vipers SC and SC Villa voice strong opposition, declining to participate under the new structure. But Magogo said FUFA’s latest move should restore calm and allow the focus to return to football itself.
“Our aim is to protect the game, ensure stability, and move forward together. This decision gives us that chance,” he said.
