Player of the Match Award to Start at Shs100,000 in UPL Amidst New League Format

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) is moving to enhance player incentives in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (UPL), unveiling a new tiered cash bonus structure for the upcoming 2025/26 season, even as the league’s controversial new format faces fierce resistance from top clubs.

The new financial package includes escalating cash prizes for the Player of the Match award and an introduction of locker room bonuses for winning teams, totaling an allocated budget of Shs518 million for the scheme.

In a bid to raise the level of competition, the Player of the Match award will start at Shs100,000 in Round One of the season, a figure that increases to Shs200,000 in Round Two and culminates in a substantial Shs500,000 for the final, critical Round Three games.

Furthermore, players will now be entitled to a locker room bonus of Shs80,000 per player in Round Two and Shs150,000 per player in Round Three, a cost of Shs444 million over the season.

FUFA has partnered with World Planet Communications Ltd to manage the scheme, with the firm contracted to process all payments directly to players’ MTN Mobile Money accounts within a swift 24 hours of a match ending.

“This partnership and the bonus structure are part of FUFA’s broader efforts to professionalise Ugandan football,” said FUFA’s third Vice President, Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, emphasizing the federation’s commitment to motivating players.

The announcement of the new incentives coincides with the rollout of a radical new league structure for the UPL, a measure that has deeply divided the football fraternity.

Starting this season, the UPL will adopt a three-round, 16-team format that splits the league into championship and relegation groups after the initial single-leg round. Crucially, the system involves resetting points for the final table standings, excluding those earned in Round One.

The new structure is designed to keep all games competitive and increase regional interest. In Round Three, the best six teams will enter Group 3 for a one-leg title decider, while the bottom six will form Group 4 for a one-leg relegation fight.

However, the reforms, detailed in Circular No. 1202, have met with strong opposition from influential clubs including Vipers SC and SC Villa. In a petition, the clubs argued that the phased system “undermines sporting integrity” by devaluing early results and warned that the entire plan could “destabilize the sporting, financial, and legal foundations of Ugandan football.”

The dissenting clubs described the proposed format, which also changes revenue distribution and player registration rules, as “unjust, irrational, and unsustainable.”

FUFA, led by its officials, has defended the approach, insisting the new model will enhance professionalism, boost competitiveness, and make the Ugandan league more attractive to fans and sponsors.