Uganda Premier League prize money sparks outrage

The 2024/25 Uganda Premier League season concluded in celebratory fashion in Kitende, where Vipers SC clinched their seventh league title.

However, the celebrations were tempered by concerns over the meager prize money awarded to the champions.

Vipers SC received only sh60m for their title win—a figure widely criticized as insufficient for a club that played 30 competitive matches over a grueling season.

When compared to other top leagues in East Africa, Uganda’s prize money lags far behind. The champions of the Tanzanian Premier League receive approximately sh948m over 15 times what Vipers earned. In Kenya, the league winner takes home about sh140m, still more than double Uganda's offering.

This glaring disparity has raised serious questions about the Uganda Premier League’s commercial strength and the level of support from football authorities. Many are questioning whether the league organizers and sponsors are doing enough to market and grow the game in Uganda.

The 2024/25 prize money distribution reveals further imbalance. Second-placed NEC FC is set to receive UGX 20 million, while third-placed BUL FC will take home sh9.6 million. The amounts drop steeply down the table. Bright Stars FC, who finished 15th, will receive just sh700,000, and bottom-placed Mbale Heroes FC a mere sh500,000—figures deemed grossly inadequate for covering even basic club operations.

In light of these low returns, some club owners have taken matters into their own hands. Vipers SC President Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa personally awarded the team sh200 million as a token of appreciation for their title-winning campaign.

Uganda’s top-flight league comprises 16 clubs—the same number as Tanzania’s Premier League—but the financial rewards remain worlds apart. This discrepancy has sparked debate over why Ugandan football is falling behind, even as neighboring countries push ahead.

Observers argue that FUFA and the league’s sponsors must explore more innovative revenue streams. These could include securing more lucrative sponsorship deals, improving media coverage, and fostering partnerships with private investors to enhance the league’s value.

As players, coaches, and staff dedicate themselves to the game under challenging conditions, the meager end-of-season rewards are seen not only as unfair but also detrimental to the growth of football in Uganda.

Here is the Uganda Premier League 2024/25 Prize Money Breakdown

1st – Vipers SC: Shs60 million
2nd – NEC FC: Shs20 million
3rd – BUL FC: Shs9.6 million
4th – URA FC: Shs7 million
5th – KCCA FC: Shs5 million
6th – SC Villa: Shs4.5 million
7th – Kitara FC: Shs4 million
8th – Maroons FC: Shs3.5 million
9th – Express FC: Shs2.8 million
10th – UPDF FC: Shs2.5 million
11th – Police FC: Shs2.4 million
12th – Mbarara City FC: Shs2.3 million
13th – Lugazi FC: Shs2.2 million
14th – Wakiso Giants FC: Shs1 million
15th – Bright Stars FC: Shs700,000
16th – Mbale Heroes FC: Shs500,000