Preparations for the 2026/27 Pepsi University Football League are gathering momentum, with the competition set for its 14th edition since its inception in 2012.
Sports tutors from participating universities convened on Friday morning, October 2, at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo, Kampala, for a preparatory meeting ahead of the new campaign.
The meeting focused on a review of the 2025/26 season, proposed changes to the competition format and the fixture schedule for the forthcoming campaign.
According to the proposals discussed, the new season is scheduled to kick off on October 20, 2026, with the first round running until November 27.
The second round is expected to begin on February 2, 2027, with the group stage scheduled to conclude on April 4.
The season will culminate in the final on May 8, 2027, although venues for the various fixtures are yet to be communicated.
Champions League-inspired format
One of the significant resolutions from the meeting is a proposed change in the competition format, with the University Football League set to adopt a structure inspired by the UEFA Champions League.
The meeting also resolved that each university will be restricted to a maximum of two players who have featured in any Masaza Cup tournament, a move that will shape squad recruitment ahead of the new season.
The changes come as the University Football League continues to expand its footprint and establish itself as one of Uganda’s prominent university sporting competitions.
When the inaugural edition was played in 2012, only six universities participated, with Makerere University emerging as the first champions.
The competition has since grown substantially, reaching a record 28 participating universities in the 2025/26 edition.
Muteesa I enter title defence
Muteesa I Royal University will begin the new campaign as defending champions after claiming their maiden University Football League title last season.
Muteesa I defeated YMCA 1-0 in the final on May 2, 2026, at Nakivubo Stadium, with Sam Mutambo scoring the decisive goal through a 28th-minute header.
The triumph came in only the university’s second appearance in the competition.
In their debut season, Muteesa I reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Bugema University, losing 2-1 on aggregate over two legs.
Their subsequent title-winning campaign marked a remarkable rise for a relatively new participant and added Muteesa I to an increasingly distinguished list of University Football League champions.
Previous Winners
2012: Makerere University
2013: Kampala University
2014: Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
2015: Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
2016: Kampala University
2017: Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Nkozi
2018: Kyambogo University
2019: Uganda Christian University (UCU)
2020–21: Not held — COVID-19
2022: Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Nkozi
2023: Nkumba University
2024/25: Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Nkozi
2025/26: Muteesa I Royal University
