University Football League 2019: Giants Makerere back, three more institutions admitted

2019 University Football League | Preliminary Round

• Makerere University Vs Kampala International University (KIU)
• Gulu University Vs Muni University
• Kabale University Vs Nkumba University

*Kick off 3^rd & 10^th February (Home & Away)

The 2019 Pepsi University Football League (UFL) will be marking the eight edition since inception.

This year’s championship was officially launched at the Kati-Kati Restaurant, Lugogo in Kampala on Wednesday, 30 January.

The launch was graced by the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUSS) top brass team spur headed by Peninah Kabenge, the association president, general secretary Patrick Ssebuliba and local organizing committee chairman, Vicent Kisenyi.

We have 26 members in the Association of Uganda University sports all of whom have students with great football talents. This season, the league has expanded from 16 to 19 with Muni University, Kabale University and International University of East Africa joining and Makerere University returning. To incorporate the new entrants,the league shall have a preliminary knockout stage in which the new entrants this season take on the bottom teams from previous season to determine who will progress to the group stages

Vincent Kisenyi

We shall be having preliminary knockout stage involving the bottom teams from last season and new teams this. They will play a two-legged knockout tie with the aggregate winner of each tie progressing to the group stages. The teams involved in this preliminary stage are Nkumba University, Gulu University and Kampala International university who were the bottom teams last season and Muni, Kabale and IUEA as new entrants

Vicent Kisenyi, local organizing committee chairman

There are now 19 universities that will compete, an increment by three with a preliminary knock out round involved.

Giants Makerere University will return to the fold after serving a year long ban following crowd trouble.

There are three institutions admitted for the championship. These include; Arua based Muni University, Kabale University and International University of East Africa (IUEA).

The preliminary draw involved teams that finished bottom placed last year which include Gulu University, Nkumba University and KIU facing off will the new entrants to determine who makes it to the group phase.

This preliminary round will be played on a home and away basis, tentatively on the 3^rd and 10^th February 2019.

International University of East Africa was accorded a bye to the group stages.

As AUUS we are excited about the growth of the competition and we thank Red Rhino and league sponsors Pepsi and Nile Special for the support that has made this possible. The new format with teams actually facing relegation will make the league even more competitive and exciting and we welcome it

Peninanh Kabenge, President AUUS

As Pepsi we are thrilled to be associated with the university football league which is arguably Ugandan’s most exciting football competition. Pepsi has along and strong bond with football globally and we are excited to be supporting this local competition that is helping develop the game at the grassroots by encouraging football talent to join university and enabling football talents in universities to showcase their skills

Elizabeth Mutamuliza, Pepsi Brand Manager

The tournament was started in 2012 with just six teams and has grown in stature over the years.

Players such as Tadeo Lwanga (Makerere University), Yassar Mugerwa (Nkumba University), Joshua ‘Letti’ Lubwama (Makerere University), Martin Sseruwagi (Nkumba University), Ibrahim Kazindula (KIU), Hannington Ssebwalunyo (Makerere and Ndejje Universities), Albert Mugisa (Ndejje University), Viane Ssekajugo (Kampala University), Geofrey Akabwai (Kampala International University), among others are vivid products of this enticing league.

Kyambogo University are the reigning champions.