The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will launch the FUFA Academies League with a pilot competition scheduled to kick off on 22nd March 2026 in the Kampala and Buganda regions.
The league will target Grade 2 and Grade 3 academies that meet the competition requirements and will serve as an important step in strengthening structured youth football development in the country.
The league will provide a structured and competitive platform for academies while enhancing player development through regular and organised match exposure. The competition will also help to standardise academy operations and competition regulations while strengthening talent identification and monitoring for long-term player progression. Additionally, the initiative will support the growth of youth coaching capacity and improve the database of academy players, coaches and administrators.
The pilot competition will feature 10 academies in each region, with Kampala and Buganda hosting separate leagues. The competition will be played over two rounds, and all matches will take place at a central venue on each matchday which will be communicated in advance. FUFA will release the detailed fixture list and matchday schedule prior to the start of the competition.
For eligibility, each academy will register a maximum of 25 players born in 2011 and 2012 to participate in the league. All participating academies must complete the mandatory licensing process through the FUFA system before the registration deadline. The required documentation includes a fully completed minor consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian, a copy of the parent or guardian’s National ID, and an authentic National ID or birth certificate of the player for age verification. Circular No.1213
As part of the preparation process, FUFA will publish the list of approved academies after assessment by the Experts Panel on 6th March 2026. The federation will then release the competition regulations on 9th March followed by the fixtures on 10th March. Player registration and licensing will open on 12th March and close on 18th March, while a coaches and academy managers workshop will take place on 17th March. The official launch of the FUFA Academies League will be held during a press conference scheduled for 16th March 2026.
Academies intending to participate in the pilot competition must formally confirm their participation to FUFA before Tuesday 10th March 2026.
The FUFA Academies League forms part of the federation’s broader strategy to strengthen youth structures and create a more organised pathway for the development of young footballers.
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