BUL FC chairman Ronald Barente has come out in strong defense of the new Uganda Premier League format, saying that all club leaders were given ample time to review and contribute to the FUFA Technical Master Plan, which introduced the ongoing competition reforms.
Speaking about the controversy surrounding the new league structure, Barente revealed that the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) had unveiled a detailed technical roadmap back in 2023, outlining key reforms in Ugandan football — including competition restructuring, mass football development, and club licensing frameworks.
“FUFA brought a technical master plan in 2023, but the problem is that we Ugandans do not want to read,” Barente said.
“The plan included competition reforms where the new league format was part, along with mass football and other initiatives.”
He added that during the AGM in Moroto, FUFA’s Ali Mwebe presented the master plan, and it was unanimously accepted by the club representatives who attended.
“We were given time as club chairmen and presidents to read through the plan and even an email address to send our suggestions,” Barente explained.
“However, only one club — KCCA FC — submitted their complaints, which were about sharing gate collections. The rest of us remained silent.”
According to Barente, many clubs only began criticizing FUFA after the reforms were rolled out to the public — despite having earlier opportunities to raise their concerns.
“When FUFA brought the reforms to the public, that’s when the rest woke up and started complaining, yet they had not used the time given to us by the FUFA president to read and decide on the reforms,” he noted.
Barente’s comments come amid mixed reactions from clubs, fans, and stakeholders regarding the new league format, which aims to enhance competitiveness, improve match organization, and align Ugandan football with international standards.
About the FUFA Technical Master Plan
The FUFA Technical Master Plan (2023–2030) outlines Uganda’s long-term football development strategy, covering competition reforms, coaching education, grassroots football, and women’s football growth. The plan is designed to strengthen domestic leagues and improve Uganda’s performance on the continental stage.
