Uganda Premier League

Men's professional association football league in Uganda

Football league

Uganda Premier LeagueFounded| 1968

|

Country| Uganda
Confederation| CAF
Number of teams| 16
Level on pyramid| 1
Relegation to| FUFA Big League
Domestic cup(s)| Ugandan Cup
Super 8
International cup(s)| Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions| SC Villa (17th title)
(2023-24)
Most championships| SC Villa (17 titles)
Top goalscorer| Majid Musisi
(113 goals)
Website| www.upl.co.ug
Current: 2024–25 Uganda Premier League

The Ugandan Premier League, also known as the StarTimes Uganda Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. The league was previously known as the Uganda Super League but changed in the 2014–15 season after new management taking over.[1] The league's roots date back to 1968 when the National First Division League was established.[2]

## History

[edit]

### Original concept

[edit]

The genesis of club football in Uganda was an idea copied from England by Balamaze Lwanga and Polycarp Kakooza. The objective was to improve Uganda's performances in the Africa Cup of Nations after disappointing results in the finals in 1962 (fourth-place finish) and 1968 (lost all three group stage matches), both held in Ethiopia. The intention was to start a Uganda National League (the forerunner of the Uganda Super League) to create the foundation for a strong national team. At the same time, the identification of players from the grassroots would be made easier and systematic.[3]

Because there were no clubs to form a league, institutions and districts were contacted to form teams. The 1968 inaugural top-flight league was composed of Prisons, Army, Coffee, Express, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, and Mbale. There were three institutions and four districts and one club.[3] The league was known as the National First Division League, and the first league champions were Prisons FC Kampala (now known as Maroons FC).[2]

After four seasons, the political turbulence in Uganda impacted on the league. The 1972 and 1973 championships were not completed because of civil unrest. In 1974, the league became known as the National Football League and this title was used until 1982 when the league was trimmed to ten teams and was renamed the Super League (shortened to Super Ten in that inaugural season).[2]

### Super League advent

[edit]

The emergence of the Super League in 1982 saw the development of SC Villa as the country's leading club. Through the 1980s and a good part of the 1990s, competition between Express, KCC FC and SC Villa lit up the league and fans attended in hoards.[4]

SC Villa won the league for the first time in 1982 and over the next 22 years totalled 16 league titles. KCC FC and Express won the championship title in the intervening years.

### Match-fixing

[edit]

In 2003, football in Uganda hit its lowest ebb as SC Villa put 22 goals past Akol FC when the league title went down to goal difference with Express. This was one of the biggest scandals in Ugandan football and thereafter, there was a complete media shutdown in all matters pertaining to local football.[4] Fans became increasingly disillusioned and deserted the stadia thus affecting the teams financially.[5] The episode represented one of many that has plagued Ugandan football.[6]

## Uganda Premier League

[edit]

The 2018–19 Uganda Super League was contested by 16 teams. Ndejje University FC and Nyamityobora FC were promoted after winning their FUFA Big League groups, while Paidha Black Angels were promoted after winning the FUFA Big League promotion playoffs.[7]

Onduparaka

Paidha Black Angels

Jinja
Bul FC
Busoga United
Police FC

Ndejje

Mbarara
Mbarara City
Nyamityobora

Vipers

Kampala
Bright Stars
Express
KCCA
Maroons
SC Villa
Soana
URA FC

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the Uganda Premier League clubs

### Participants and locations

[edit]

Club  | Settlement  | Stadium  | Capacity

|
|
|

Bright Stars | Kampala | Mwererwe Stadium  | 5,000
Bul FC | Jinja | Kakindu Municipal Stadium  | 1,000
Express | Kampala | Muteesa II Stadium | 20,200
KCCA FC | Kampala | Lugogo Stadium | 3,000
Busoga United FC | Jinja | Kakindu Municipal Stadium  | 1,000
Maroons FC | Kampala | Luzira Prisons Stadium  | 1,000
Mbarara City FC | Mbarara | Kakyeka Stadium  | 2,000
Ndejje University FC | Ndejje | Ndejje Stadium  | 2,000
Nyamityobora FC | Mbarara | Nyamityobora Playing Grounds  | 1,000
Onduparaka FC | Onduparaka, Arua  | Greenlight Stadium  | 2,000
Paidha Black Angels FC | Paidha, Zombo  | Okoro Stadium  | 6,000
Police FC | Jinja | Kavumba Recreation Centre  | 1,000
SC Villa | Kampala | Mandela National Stadium | 45,202
Soana | Kampala | Kavumba Recreation Centre  | 1,000
Uganda Revenue Authority SC | Kampala | Lugazi Stadium  | 2,000
Vipers SC | Wakiso | St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende | 20,000

Some of the Kampala clubs may on occasions also play home matches at the Mandela National Stadium. [8]

## Previous winners

[edit]

Years | Champions

|

1968-1969 | Prisons FC (1)
1969 | Prisons FC (2)
1970 | Coffee United Sports Club (1)
1971 | Simba FC (1)
1972  | Not held
1973  | Not held
1974 | Express FC (1)
1975 | Express FC (2)
1976 | Kampala City Council (1)
1977 | Kampala City Council (2)
1978 | Simba FC (2)
1979 | Uganda Commercial Bank FC (1)
1980 | Nile Breweries FC (1)
1981 | Kampala City Council (3)
1982 | Villa SC (1)
1983 | Kampala City Council (4)
1984 | Villa SC (2)
1985  | Kampala City Council (5)
1986 | Villa SC (3)
1987 | Villa SC (4)
1988  | Villa SC (5)
1989 | Villa SC (6)
1990 | Villa SC (7)
1991 | Kampala City Council (6)
1992 | Villa SC (8)
1993 | Express FC (3)
1994 | Villa SC (9)
1995 | Express FC (4)
1996 | Express FC (5)
1997 | Kampala City Council (7)
1998 | Villa SC (10)
1999 | Villa SC (11)
2000 | Villa SC (12)
2001 | Villa SC (13)
2002 | Villa SC (14)
2002-2003 | Villa SC (15)
2004 | Villa SC (16)
2005 | Police FC (1)
2006 | Uganda Revenue Authority SC (1)
2006-2007 | Uganda Revenue Authority SC (2)
2007-2008 | Kampala City Council (8)
2008-2009 | Uganda Revenue Authority SC (3)
2009-2010 | Vipers SC (1)
2010-2011 | Uganda Revenue Authority SC (4)
2011-2012 | Express FC (6)
2012-2013 | Kampala City Council (9)
2013-2014 | Kampala City Council (10)
2014-2015 | Vipers SC (2)
2015-2016 | Kampala City Council (11)
2016-2017 | Kampala City Council (12)
2017-2018 | Vipers SC (3)
2018-2019 | Kampala City Council (13)
2019-2020 | Vipers SC[9] (4)
2020-2021 | Express FC (7)
2021-2022 | Vipers SC (5)
2022-2023 | Vipers SC (6)
2023–24 | Villa SC (17)

## Performances by club

[edit]

Club  | Previous names  | Settlement  | Titles  | Championship Seasons

|
|
|
|

SC Villa | Nakivubo Boys
Nakivubo Villa | Kampala |

| 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2002–03, 2004, 2023-24
Kampala Capital City Authority FC | Kampala City Council FC | Kampala |

| 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
Express FC | Express Red Eagles | Kampala |

| 1974, 1975, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011–12, 2020–21
Vipers SC | Bunamwaya SC | Wakiso |

| 2009–10, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022-23
Uganda Revenue Authority SC | — | Kampala |

| 2006, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11
Maroons FC | Prisons FC | Kampala |

| 1968–69, 1969
Simba FC | Army | Lugazi |

| 1971, 1978
Coffee United SC | — | Kakira |

| 1970
Nile Breweries | — | Jinja |

| 1980
Police FC | — | Jinja |

| 2005
Uganda Commercial Bank FC | — | Kampala |

| 1979

## Top scorers

[edit]

| Year | Top scorers | Team | Goals

|
|
|

1968–69 | John Owubwe | Simba FC |
1969 | Ali Kitonsa[10] | Express | 36
1970 | Erickson Matega | Express |
1971 | Polly Ouma | Simba FC | 18
1972 | Paschal Luwagga | Express |
1973 | Joy Ssebuliba | Lint FC | 17*
1974 | Peter Kirumira | Express | 14
1975 | Chris Ddungu | KCC FC | 12
1976 | John Ntesibe | Express | 22
1977 | Denis Obua | Uganda Police FC | 24
1978 | Jimmy Kirunda | KCC FC | 32
1979 | Davis Kamoga | KCC FC | 18
1980 | Davis Kamoga | KCC FC | 21
1981 | Issa Ssekatawa | Nytil FC | 18
1982 | Issa Ssekatawa | Express | 22
1983 | Issa Ssekatawa | Express | 21
1984 | Frank Kyazze | KCC FC | 18
1985 | Frank Kyazze | KCC FC | 28
1986 | Charles Letti | Tobacco FC | 29
1987 | Majid Musisi | SC Villa | 28
1988 | Mathias Kaweesa | Nsambya FC | 17
1989 | Majid Musisi | SC Villa | 15
1990 | Majid Musisi | SC Villa | 28
1991 | Mathias Kaweesa | Coffee United SC | 18
1992 | Majid Musisi | SC Villa | 29
1993 | Mathias Kaweesa | SC Villa | 20
1994 | Adolf Bora | Coffee United SC | 21
1995 | Ibrahim Kizito | Uganda Electricity Board FC | 20
1996 | David Kiwanuka | Uganda Electricity Board FC | 21
| Year | Top scorers | Team | Goals

|
|
|

1997 | Jackson Mayanja
Charles Ogwang | KCC FC
Umeme FC | 18
1998 | Charles Kayemba | SC Villa | 18
1999 | Andrew Mukasa | SC Villa | 45
2000 | Andrew Mukasa | SC Villa | 27
2001 | Hassan Mubiru | Express | 24
2002 | Hassan Mubiru | Express | 22
2002–03 | Hassan Mubiru | Express | 16
2004 | Osborn Mundia
| Kinyara FC
| 13
2005 | Martin Muwanga
Geoffrey Sserunkuma | Police FC
KCC FC | 8
2006 | Dan Walusimbi | Police FC | 15
2006–07 | Hamis Kitagenda | Uganda Revenue Authority SC | 20
2007–08 | Brian Umony
Olobo Bruno | KCC FC
Police FC | 15
2008–09 | Peter Ssenyonjo | Police FC | 22
2009–10 | Tony Odur | Bunamwya | 21
2010–11 | Diego Hamis Kiiza | Uganda Revenue Authority SC | 14
2011–12 | Robert Ssentongo | Uganda Revenue Authority SC | 13
2012–13 | Herman Wasswa | SC Villa and KCC FC | 20
2013–14 | Tony Odur
Francis Solaki | KCC
Soana FC | 15
2014–15 | Robert Ssentongo | Uganda Revenue Authority SC | 15[11]
2015–16 | Robert Ssentongo | Uganda Revenue Authority SC | 18[12]
2016–17 | Geoffrey Sserunkuma | KCCA FC | 20
2017–18 | Dan Sserunkuma | Vipers SC | 17
2018–19 | Juma Balinya | Police FC | 19
2019–20 | Steven Mukwala | Maroons FC | 13
2020–21 | Yunus Sentamu | Vipers SC | 16
2021–22 | Cesar Manzoki | Vipers SC | 18
2022–23 | Allan Kawiya  | Express | 13
2023-24 | Muhammad Shaban | Kampala City | 17

Notes:

* Joy Ssebuliba was leading league scorer with 17 goals for Lint FC in 1973 but the league was not completed because of the dire political situation.[13]

## Multiple hat-tricks

[edit]

Rank  | Country  | Player  | Hat-tricks

|
|
|

1  |  | Olobo Bruno  | 3
2  |  | Emmanuel Okwi | 2
| Peter Ssenyonjo
4  |  | Moses Aduni  | 4
| Oscar Kadenge
| David Kalungi
| Ismael Kigosi
| Hamis Kitagenda
| Hisborne Mundia
| Andrew Nkurunungi
| Augustine Nsumba
| Tony Odur
| Cesar Okhuti
| Denis Ojara
| Allan Okello
| Brian Omwony
| Denis Onyango

## See also

[edit]

* Federation of Uganda Football Associations

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Richard M Kavuma (2009-05-05). "Ugandan football struggles to compete with English Premier League | Katine". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
2. ^ a b c "FUFA Files: History of the Uganda Super League". Soccer256. Archived from the original on 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
3. ^ a b "Uganda Super League reaping from 1968 Sand Foundation". FUFA. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
4. ^ a b "Origin of the Uganda Super League (USL)". USL Ltd. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
5. ^ "HB ZZIWA: Villa's 22–1 win over Akol killed Ugandan football". The Observer. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
6. ^ "Top 10 List: Match fixing episodes in Ugandan football". The Observer. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
7. ^ "Uganda 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
8. ^ "Ugandan Premier League: Venues 2013/13". Soccerway. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
9. ^ Collins Nabiswa (20 May 2020). "OFFICIAL: Vipers SC declared Uganda Premier League champions after league is cancelled". futaa.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
10. ^ "Top 10 Strikers ever in the Ugandan Top Flight Football League". kawowo.com. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
11. ^ "FUFA Monthly" (PDF). fufa.co.ug. 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
12. ^ "KCCA's Ochaya is 2015–16 UPL Most Valuable Player". upl.co.ug. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
13. ^ "The Legends: Uganda Super League top scorers since league inception". Kawowo.com. 2012-04-16. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2014-01-24.

## External links

[edit]

* League at FIFA.com (archived 22 June 2007)
* RSSSF competition history

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