Uganda Premier League clubs have been asked to maintain the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs in the wake of the Ebola outbreak.
The premier league returns on Friday after four months of recess. The defending champions Vipers SC will host Soltilo Bright Stars at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
The Uganda Premier League Chief Executive Officer Bernard Bainamani says that they have not yet established Ebola SOPs but have asked clubs to use the existing Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures.
He further said that the league secretariat is currently working with FUFA and the Ministry of Health to determine the specific SOPs for Ebola so that the league is not disrupted.
The FUFA President Moses Magogo has also announced that the Federation had agreed with Star Times to allow FUFA TV to broadcast some Uganda Premier league games for the forthcoming season.
Previously, Premier League matches would be broadcasted exclusively on Sanyuka TV, but Magogo said that both FUFA TV and Sanyuka TV will now broadcast the league match which will increase the number of games that will be broadcasted live to 150 in a season.
Magogo noted that the money majorly comes from Television rights and the move to increase the number of games aired on Television will perhaps also increase the amount of revenue collected which in return will aid the clubs’ welfare.
Asked whether this will increase the prize money the winner of the league and participants get, the FUFA President could not commit himself, but rather said that the development will expose clubs to more sponsors. Apparently, the winner of the league takes 60 million Shillings.
Aldrine Nsubuga, the Vice President of Star Times also believes Uganda Premier League players will be exposed to international markets.
Unlike the previous seasons which had sixteen teams to battle for the silverware, this league will be played by fifteen teams after FUFA Club Licensing Committee resolved not to license the Mukono-based, Kyetume FC for the 2022/23 season.
The decision was reached after the club failed to meet the set deadlines of submitting minimum requirements for the application for a Club License to participate in the FUFA Organized Competitions. Bainamani says that this will be upheld and at the end of the season, only two teams will be relegated to maintain the number.