A standoff between Vipers Sports Club and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has exploded into a full-blown governance and financial scandal after Vipers president Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa accused FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo of blackmail, disrespect, and financial neglect.
Mulindwa says FUFA has failed to pay Vipers their prize money for both the Uganda Premier League and the Uganda Cup titles they won in the 2024/25 season, and has also not contributed to air-ticket costs the club incurred while representing Uganda in CAF competitions.
Vipers completed a domestic double last season, lifting both the Uganda Premier League and the Stanbic Uganda Cup, but according to the club president, no prize money has been received months later. Reports show that the Uganda Premier League champion’s prize for the 2024/25 season was UGX 60 million, while Uganda Cup payouts remain undisclosed. Despite repeated follow-ups, FUFA has reportedly gone silent on payments and reimbursements for continental participation.
Dr. Mulindwa reportedly told close associates that Vipers represented Uganda at the CAF level using their own funds and that FUFA has not refunded even a shilling. He insists the club is still waiting for the prize money for both the league and the Cup.
Tensions escalated after Vipers rejected FUFA’s newly introduced three-group league format, arguing that the change was rushed, non-consultative, and inconsistent with international standards. Mulindwa accused Magogo of personalizing football administration, saying the federation was using threats and blackmail to push reforms that benefit a few individuals rather than the game itself. FUFA has since called crisis meetings with league owners and sponsors, insisting that all clubs were consulted and that payments will be processed according to policy.
The fallout between FUFA and Vipers follows a chain of events that have unfolded over several months. In May 2025, Vipers won the Uganda Premier League, earning an official cash prize of UGX 60 million. A month later, the club lifted the Stanbic Uganda Cup, completing a domestic double and furthering expectations of prize payments. During July and August 2025, Vipers represented Uganda in CAF competitions, funding their own air tickets after FUFA allegedly failed to contribute.
In September 2025, FUFA unveiled a new three-group Uganda Premier League format, which Vipers rejected outright. On October 2, 2025, Dr. Mulindwa wrote officially to FUFA and the UPL, accusing Magogo of blackmail and demanding payment of all dues. FUFA called an emergency meeting between October 3 and 5 to contain the fallout, but by October 6, the standoff remained unresolved as Vipers threatened to take legal and administrative action if FUFA failed to respond.
According to publicly available information, Vipers are owed UGX 60 million for the league title, an undisclosed amount for winning the Uganda Cup, and additional reimbursements for CAF air tickets. If verified, the club could be owed more than UGX 100 million in total obligations — a significant financial strain amid rising operational costs for Ugandan clubs in continental competitions.
The ongoing dispute threatens to destabilize the 2025/26 domestic season and tarnish the image of Ugandan football. If unresolved, Vipers, one of Uganda’s most successful clubs in recent years, could boycott league fixtures, potentially disrupting sponsorships and broadcast deals. Analysts also warn that FUFA could face consumer-protection complaints if it continues to sell match tickets for fixtures involving clubs that have declared intent to withdraw.
FUFA maintains it operates within its statutes and that all disbursements follow due process. Vipers, on the other hand, insist they will seek justice through all lawful football channels. League sponsors and other stakeholders have called for a transparent audit of prize allocations and reimbursements to restore confidence in the sport.
What began as a policy disagreement over league structure has become a test of football governance in Uganda. With UGX 60 million in unpaid league prizes, unconfirmed Cup winnings, and unsettled CAF travel costs, the rift between Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa and Eng. Moses Magogo now threatens to paralyze the sport’s top flight unless FUFA and Vipers can find common ground.
