The Uganda Premier League (UPL) was, for the first time, accorded a seat at the global football dialogue, joining the likes of South Africa and Egypt in Cairo last week to address pressing issues facing African leagues.
Jenkins Matovu, the UPL Chief Commercial Officer, represented the league in the regional social dialogue held by the World Leagues Association (WLA). The UPL attended as guests.
“The meeting in Cairo provided invaluable insights into how professional leagues across the globe are leveraging innovation and collaboration to grow the game,” said Matovu.
“Key discussions around player welfare, commercial rights, and community engagement offered actionable strategies that align with our vision for the Uganda Premier League.
“As the UPL, we will focus on strengthening our player transfer system, enhancing collaborations, and ensuring clubs create deeper connections with their communities.
“These takeaways are a road map to positioning the Uganda Premier League as a competitive and commercially viable league, ready to deliver value to all stakeholders, including fans, players, and partners.”
The event brought together professional leagues from South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria – all full members of the WLA – to discuss challenges facing African football.
Other African members of the WLA include Morocco, Botswana, and Madagascar.
The WLA has 45 member leagues worldwide, including top European leagues from England, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands. In all, the WLA represents about 1,100 clubs.
During the meeting, Fifpro (International Federation of Professional Footballers) board member and Fifpro Africa president, Cameroonian legend Geremi Njitap, underscored the importance of national leagues in football’s ecosystem.
“Wherever players earn their livelihood – in teams big and small – they understand the value of national leagues. These leagues are the backbone of the industry, contributing to their jobs and the sector as a whole,” said Njitap.
Participants agreed to reconvene in early 2025 to develop a specific working plan.