A heated standoff between the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and two of the country’s top football clubs, Vipers SC and SC Villa, has prompted Hon. Geofrey Kayemba Solo, the Shadow Minister for Sports, to demand immediate action to resolve the impasse.
The dispute centers on FUFA’s new league format and reforms, which the clubs claim were introduced without adequate consultation.
Kayemba notes that while FUFA’s reforms may have good intentions, the federation’s failure to engage with key stakeholders, including club owners, has led to widespread discontent.
Vipers SC has outright rejected the reforms, while SC Villa has opted to play under protest.
The situation is further complicated by threats from fans to boycott league matches .
In a strongly-worded statement, Kayemba urged FUFA to adopt dialogue and fair play, core values of the game worldwide, instead of pushing through radical changes.
He also called on the Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Council of Sports, CAF, and FIFA to intervene and mediate the dispute before it’s too late.
“My attention has been drawn to altercations between the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and a couple of StarTimes Uganda Premier League clubs, particularly Vipers SC and SC Villa, over reforms in the top flight.
I have read letters from both clubs in which they raise concerns, culminating in Vipers objecting to the reforms outright while Villa has opted to play under protest.
FUFA ought to look into these grievances and not just ignore them. Football is a unifying sport, even with our differences as a country.
We cannot afford to lose more investors, fans, sponsors, and football-loving Ugandans.
It is never too late. Consensus is the only way forward. If not resolved amicably, this standoff could even affect the performance of the national team, Uganda Cranes.” Reads the statement.
The standoff has already led to Vipers SC’s withdrawal from their match against Kitara FC, and the club’s president, Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, has vowed to exhaust all available means to seek justice.
Kayemba warned that if the dispute is not resolved amicably, it could affect the performance of the national team, Uganda Cranes.
The ball is now firmly in FUFA’s court, and the federation’s response in the coming days will be crucial in determining the future of Ugandan football governance.
With the league’s credibility, club investments, and fan trust at stake, the situation demands urgent attention and a commitment to finding a consensus-driven solution.
