Following productive meetings by League Club Leaders and the Pool Association of Uganda Executive Committee, the men’s national league is set to return on August 4, 2024, with the women league commencing a week later on August 11, 2024.
The highly anticipated return comes after a one-year hiatus due to a disagreement between the governing body (PAU) and clubs. While an end-of-year tournament filled the gap in competition in 2023, fans are eager to see the return of a full league season.
Leagues’ details
This year’s leagues will be a welcome sight for both players and fans. Thanks to a two-year contract with Nile Breweries, 16 men’s and eight women’s teams will battle it out for national glory. The league is expected to conclude early next year.
There’s significant financial incentive to participate, with a total prize pool of Shs16m for the men’s league. The champions will take home a Shs6m, while the remaining Shs10m will be distributed amongst the top five performing teams.
The women’s league boasts a Shs10m prize pool, with Shs4m awarded to the winning team. Importantly, all participating clubs will receive Shs3m in facilitation funds.
Gender equality
In a bid towards gender equality, the league will require all women teams to field five starters, mirroring the men’s format instead of the three that were proposed by some members. This decision reflects the growing focus on women’s sports and aims to provide a more balanced platform for competition.
To enhance fan engagement with sponsors Nile Breweries, league games will now commence at 5pm instead of the previous 3pm kick-off time. This adjustment allows for greater participation from fans who may be working during earlier hours.
Deadlines
Teams have until July 26, 2024 to confirm their participation in the league. To ensure a smooth start, the competitions committee will inspect all league venues by August 2, 2024 to guarantee they meet minimum requirements. Additionally, all player contracts must be submitted by the same deadline (August 2).
Key dates
• Men’s League kick-off: August 4, 2024
• Ladies League kick-off: August 11, 2024
• League registration deadline: July 26, 2024
• Submission of player contracts: August 2, 2024
