Eight Grounds Fall Short as FUFA Tightens Stadium Standards Ahead of 2026/27 UPL Season

Preparations for the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League campaign have entered a crucial phase after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) released the findings of its stadium assessment exercise conducted under the club licensing process, with eight grounds failing to secure approval to host top-flight matches due to significant infrastructure, safety and facility shortcomings.

The assessment forms part of FUFA’s broader preparations for the new Uganda Premier League season and is aimed at ensuring that clubs competing in the country’s top division have access to stadiums that meet the required standards. The exercise examined not only the condition of playing surfaces but also the wider matchday environment, including dressing rooms, technical areas, medical facilities, sanitary provisions, security arrangements and facilities for supporters and media personnel.

Club licensing remains a key pillar of FUFA’s strategic plan, with the federation seeking to use the process to improve club administration, upgrade football infrastructure and raise the overall standards of the game in Uganda. By enforcing minimum requirements, FUFA hopes to encourage clubs and stadium managers to invest in facilities that provide a safer, more professional and more suitable environment for competitive football.

The latest assessment, however, has exposed considerable infrastructure gaps at the eight affected grounds. The deficiencies range from uneven and poorly maintained playing surfaces and inadequate drainage systems to substandard dressing rooms, insufficient lockers, poor sanitary facilities, security concerns and the absence of dedicated medical and media working areas.

FUFA has attached detailed reasons for the non-approval of each respective stadium, giving clubs, facility owners and managers a clear indication of the areas that require immediate attention. While some of the problems can be addressed through routine maintenance and rehabilitation, others will demand significant financial investment and major infrastructure upgrades before the venues can be considered ready to host Uganda Premier League matches.

Bombo Barracks Ground Faces Extensive Infrastructure Concerns

Bombo Barracks Ground is among the facilities that failed to meet the required standards, with the assessment identifying several areas requiring substantial rehabilitation and improvement before the venue can be cleared for top-flight football.

The playing surface was found to have bare patches and uneven sections, conditions that can affect the quality of football while potentially increasing the risk of injuries to players.

FUFA has recommended comprehensive turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, pest management, raking, mowing and rolling, as well as planting new grass to restore damaged areas and improve the overall quality of the pitch.

The ground also lacks basic drainage channels, leaving the playing surface vulnerable to flooding and waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall. The absence of an effective drainage system could lead to match disruptions during the rainy season and will therefore need to be addressed if the facility is to provide a reliable venue for competitive football.

The technical benches were described as being in a very poor condition, while the dressing rooms for players and match officials were considered too small and lacked sufficient lockers. These facilities are vital components of a professional matchday environment and will require considerable improvement to meet the standards expected for Uganda Premier League competition.

The venue also lacks a dedicated medical room for players and match officials, raising concerns about its ability to provide immediate medical assistance in the event of injuries or emergencies. Sanitary facilities serving both home and away supporters were also found to be in poor condition, creating another area requiring urgent intervention.

Security and crowd management present further challenges. The internal perimeter wall on the lower side of the pitch requires attention, while the venue lacks adequate physical separation between supporters. Players also do not have a secure entrance linking the dressing rooms to the field of play, creating a gap in player safety and matchday organisation.

Bombo Barracks Ground also has no dedicated media working area, limiting the ability of journalists and other media professionals to cover matches in a suitable environment. FUFA has additionally called for improvements to the surrounding areas and general beautification of the facility.

Bugonga Fisheries Ground Falls Short on Key Matchday Facilities

Bugonga Fisheries Ground is another facility that has failed to secure approval after the assessment revealed several shortcomings affecting its readiness to host competitive football.

The playing surface contains bare patches and requires extensive turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, pest management, raking, mowing, rolling and grass planting. The required work is intended to restore the pitch to a more consistent condition and provide players with a safer and more reliable playing environment.

Like Bombo Barracks Ground, Bugonga Fisheries lacks basic drainage infrastructure, creating the risk of flooding and waterlogging during heavy rainfall. Developing adequate drainage will be essential to protecting the pitch and ensuring that scheduled matches are not repeatedly affected by poor weather conditions.

The technical benches were found to be in a very poor condition, while the facility also lacks a dedicated technical bench for match officials. The dressing rooms for both teams and match officials were considered too small and lacked sufficient lockers, falling below the required standards.

FUFA also found no dedicated medical room for players and match officials, while sanitary facilities for home and away supporters were deemed insufficient across the various sections of the ground. These shortcomings could negatively affect the welfare and overall matchday experience of players and spectators.The absence of a dedicated media working area was another concern, while the surrounding areas and general appearance of the facility require considerable improvement.

The ground also lacks electricity to provide adequate security lighting at night. This raises concerns about the facility’s ability to safely accommodate football-related activities beyond daylight hours and highlights the need for improvements to its electrical and security infrastructure.

Ebenezer University Ground Missing Essential Matchday Infrastructure

Ebenezer University Ground has also failed to receive approval after FUFA identified significant deficiencies across almost every major area of matchday infrastructure.

The playing field has bare patches and requires comprehensive turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, raking, mowing, rolling, pest management and grass planting. The pitch will require sustained attention if it is to reach the standard expected for competitive top-flight football.

The ground also lacks basic drainage channels, leaving it vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall. This presents a significant challenge for the venue’s reliability, particularly during Uganda’s rainy seasons.

FUFA found no technical benches for either competing team or match officials, while the facility also lacks proper dressing rooms for players and officials. These are fundamental matchday requirements and represent a significant gap in the venue’s infrastructure.

The absence of a dedicated medical room was also highlighted as a major concern. With football matches carrying the possibility of injuries and medical emergencies, the lack of appropriate medical facilities presents a serious challenge to player welfare.

Sanitary facilities for home and away supporters across all sectors were also found to be inadequate and in poor condition. The ground further lacks both an internal perimeter fence and a permanent external perimeter fence, creating significant security concerns.

The absence of a dedicated media working area adds to the list of deficiencies and further underlines the considerable investment required before the venue can be considered suitable for top-flight football.

Kigezi Al Madina Ground Requires Major Upgrade

Kigezi Al Madina Ground is also among the venues that failed to secure approval, with FUFA identifying a number of shortcomings affecting the playing surface, team facilities, spectator amenities and security arrangements.

The playing surface contains bare patches and requires extensive turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, raking, mowing, rolling, pest management and grass planting.

The venue also lacks basic drainage channels, creating the potential for flooding during the rainy season. The absence of drainage infrastructure could compromise the pitch and lead to match disruptions if the problem is not addressed.

There are no technical benches for either competing teams or match officials, while the facility also lacks suitable dressing rooms for players and officials.The absence of a dedicated medical room was another concern, while sanitary facilities for home and away supporters were considered inadequate. Although some facilities are available, FUFA found them to be in poor condition and insufficient to meet the needs of spectators across all sectors.

The venue also lacks a dedicated media working area and does not have a permanent external perimeter fence, leaving significant gaps in its infrastructure and security arrangements.

Luzira Prisons Ground Fails Over Safety and Facility Concerns

Luzira Prisons Ground has also been flagged for a number of issues, with safety concerns featuring prominently in the assessment.The playing surface requires general turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, pest management, raking, mowing and rolling.

One of the most serious concerns identified at the facility is the condition of its drainage channels, which are uncovered and therefore present a potential safety hazard to players.The technical benches were found to be in poor condition and below the required standards, while the dressing rooms for both teams and match officials also require significant rehabilitation.

Sanitary facilities for home and away supporters were found to be in poor condition and below the required standards, raising concerns about spectator welfare.

FUFA further noted that the surrounding areas require considerable improvement in terms of general beautification. The ground also lacks a dedicated media working area, while its permanent external perimeter fence requires installation or repairs to strengthen security.

Mbale City Stadium Needs Significant Rehabilitation

Mbale City Stadium, one of the important football facilities in eastern Uganda, has also failed to meet the required standards following the assessment.The playing field was found to have bare patches and requires comprehensive turf maintenance, including spiking, levelling, pest management, raking, mowing, rolling and grass planting.

The absence of basic drainage channels was also highlighted, with FUFA noting the potential risk of flooding during the rainy season.The technical benches were found to be in very poor condition, while the stadium also lacks a dedicated technical bench for referees.

The dressing rooms for both players and match officials do not meet the required standards, while there is no dedicated medical room to cater for players and match officials.The stadium also lacks sufficient sanitary facilities for supporters in all sectors, while the absence of a dedicated media working area further limits its matchday functionality.

FUFA has additionally called for improvements to the surrounding areas and overall beautification of the stadium, including the painting of the stands to enhance the venue’s appearance.

Royal’s Park Butema Fails Over Playing Surface and Support Facilities

Royal’s Park Butema has also been denied approval after the assessment identified several areas requiring urgent attention.The playing surface was found to be bumpy and uneven, a condition that can affect the quality of football and potentially increase the risk of injuries to players.

FUFA also noted the absence of signage or directional signposts guiding visitors from the main road to the stadium, making it potentially difficult for first-time visitors to locate the venue.The home team dressing room has very few lockers, with most of those available reportedly non-functional, while the away team changing room has no lockers at all.

The away team wing also has only three functioning showers, significantly below the required standard.The assessment further found that toilet and convenience facilities for both male and female users were poorly finished and lacked doors.

Royal’s Park Butema also has no dedicated media working area, while the surrounding areas have become heavily overgrown with bushes and thickets, leaving the facility untidy and poorly maintained.

MTN Omondi Stadium Raises Serious Safety and Lighting Concerns

MTN Omondi Stadium is another major facility that has not been approved, with the condition of its artificial playing surface emerging as the most serious concern.FUFA found that the artificial turf has become significantly worn out and deteriorated to a very poor condition.

Of particular concern are the goal areas, which were described as being in an extremely dangerous state and posing a serious risk of injury to players.The technical benches at the stadium were also found not to meet the required standards.

In addition, the stadium’s floodlights failed to meet the minimum lighting requirements stipulated in the stadium regulations.According to the assessment, the floodlights recorded an average illumination of 503 lux, below the required minimum average level.

The combination of a deteriorated artificial surface and inadequate floodlighting presents significant challenges that must be addressed before the stadium can be considered ready to host Uganda Premier League matches under the required standards.

A Race Against Time Ahead of the New Campaign

The non-approval of the eight grounds places considerable responsibility on clubs, stadium owners and facility managers to address the identified shortcomings before the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League campaign gets underway.

The findings provide a detailed roadmap of the improvements required, ranging from routine pitch maintenance and general rehabilitation to major infrastructure projects involving drainage, perimeter fencing, dressing rooms, medical facilities, lighting and playing surfaces.

For some venues, the required work will demand significant financial investment and careful planning. However, the assessment also presents an opportunity for facility managers to improve their grounds and create better environments that can support football development well beyond the forthcoming season.

As the countdown to the new Premier League campaign continues, the affected facilities will be under pressure to close the identified gaps and demonstrate that they can provide safe, professional and functional environments for Uganda’s top-flight football.

Ultimately, FUFA’s message through the club licensing exercise is clear, the future of the Uganda Premier League must be built not only on the quality of football played on the pitch, but also on the quality, safety and professionalism of the facilities surrounding the game.