Uganda Premier League
Founded1968
CountryUganda
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFUFA Big League
Domestic cup(s)Ugandan Cup
Super 8
International cup(s)Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current championsVipers SC (6th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsSC Villa (16 titles)
Websitewww.upl.co.ug
Current: 2023–24 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

Original concept

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

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

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

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]

Participants and locations

Uganda Premier League is located in Uganda
Onduparaka
Onduparaka
Paidha Black Angels
Paidha Black Angels
JinjaBul FCBusoga UnitedPolice FC
Jinja
Bul FC
Busoga United
Police FC
Ndejje
Ndejje
MbararaMbarara CityNyamityobora
Mbarara
Mbarara City
Nyamityobora
Vipers
Vipers
KampalaBright StarsExpressKCCAMaroonsSC VillaSoanaURA FC
Kampala
Bright Stars
Express
KCCA
Maroons
SC Villa
Soana
URA FC
Locations of the Uganda Premier League clubs
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

Performances by club

Club Previous names Settlement Titles Championship Seasons
SC VillaNakivubo Boys
Nakivubo Villa		Kampala
16
 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2002–03, 2004
Kampala Capital City Authority FCKampala City Council FCKampala
13
1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
Express FCExpress Red EaglesKampala
7
1974, 1975, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011–12, 2020–21
Vipers SCBunamwaya SCWakiso
6
2009–10, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
Uganda Revenue Authority SC—Kampala
4
2006, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11
Maroons FCPrisons FCKampala
2
1968–69, 1969
Simba FCArmyLugazi
2
1971, 1978
Coffee United SC—Kakira
1
1970
Nile Breweries—Jinja
1
1980
Police FC—Jinja
1
2005
Uganda Commercial Bank FC—Kampala
1
1979

Top scorers

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.[14]

Multiple hat-tricks

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Richard M Kavuma (2009-05-05). "Ugandan football struggles to compete with English Premier League | Katine". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  2. 1 2 3 "FUFA Files: History of the Uganda Super League". Soccer256. Archived from the original on 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  3. 1 2 "Uganda Super League reaping from 1968 Sand Foundation". FUFA. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  4. 1 2 "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. ↑ Express FC Declared 2020/21 Uganda Premier League Champions Ndibba Updates
  10. ↑ "Vipers SC crowned Uganda Premier League Champs". 21 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Top 10 Strikers ever in the Ugandan Top Flight Football League". kawowo.com. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "FUFA Monthly" (PDF). fufa.co.ug. 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  13. ↑ "KCCA's Ochaya is 2015–16 UPL Most Valuable Player". upl.co.ug. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "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.
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