The University Football League (UFL) has unveiled its 2026 season structure, with 31 universities set to compete in an expanded campaign featuring a regionalised group arrangement and a proposed format inspired by the UEFA Champions League.
The draws were conducted on Thursday, October 15, at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo, Kampala, ahead of the 14th edition of the competition, which was inaugurated in 2012 with just six universities.
The league has grown steadily over the years, attracting more institutions and establishing itself as a major platform for university football in Uganda.
Metropolitan University, Seeta University and World Mission Frontiers are the latest entrants, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 31.
According to the organisers, the groups have been organised along regional lines to reduce travel distances and ease logistical demands on participating universities.
The competition will feature three groups: Eastern, Western and Northern, with each team looking to navigate the group stage and secure progression to the knockout rounds.
Under the proposed Champions League-inspired format, each university will play six matches, including three home fixtures. The top two teams in each group will qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, alongside the two best-performing teams that miss out on automatic qualification.
The second round is expected to begin on February 2, 2027, with the group stage scheduled to conclude on April 4. The season will climax with the final on May 8, 2027, although venues for the various fixtures are yet to be announced.
Another notable resolution restricts each university to a maximum of two players who have featured in the Masaza Cup, a measure expected to influence recruitment and squad selection ahead of the new campaign.
Muteesa I Royal University enter the season as defending champions after securing their maiden UFL title in the 2025/26 campaign. They 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.
Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) president George Wagogo said the league’s growth reflects the increasing importance of university sport in developing talent while promoting academic achievement.
Wagogo emphasised that the competition provides a pathway for aspiring national-team players and professional athletes, while reinforcing the principle that education and sport can thrive together.
He added that the 2026 season would prioritise player eligibility, safety, discipline and transparency, with participants required to be registered students below the age of 25.
The association will also continue working with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), security agencies, broadcasters and sponsors to improve officiating, safety and the league’s visibility.
Wagogo further pledged continued engagement with government through the National Council of Sports and the Ministry responsible for sports to secure improved infrastructure and funding for university sport.
With three new entrants, a regionalised group structure and a revised competition model on the agenda, the 2026 UFL season promises another significant chapter in the evolution of university football in Uganda.
2026 UFL Groups
Group A — Eastern Region
Uganda Martyrs University
Busitema University
Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)
World Mission Frontiers University
Soroti University
Kumi University
King Ceasor University
Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
Metropolitan International University
Uganda Christian University (UCU)
Group B — Western Region
Muteesa I Royal University
Bishop Stuart University
Mountains of the Moon University
Kabale University
St. Lawrence University
Nkumba University
Makerere University
Kampala International University (KIU)
ISBAT University
Bugema University
International University of East Africa (IUEA)
Group C — Northern Region
Lira University
Muni University
Gulu University
YMCA Comprehensive Institute
Kampala University (KU)
Kyambogo University
University of Kisubi (UNIK)
Seeta University
Ndejje University
Africa Renewal University
Previous UFL 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, Nkozi
2018: Kyambogo University
2019: Uganda Christian University (UCU)
2020–2021: Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
2022: Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi
2023: Nkumba University
2024/25: Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi
2025/26: Muteesa I Royal University
