Vipers’ President Dr Lawrence Mulindwa has vowed not to back down on his objection to the league reforms that included, among others, a change of format.
The Venoms supremo in a letter dated October 2, 2025, to Fufa rejected league reforms and true to his word, Vipers didn’t honour their slated match against Kitara in a flopped double header at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Saturday.
In an extensive interview with The New Vision, Mulindwa stated the sequence of events that resulted in the stand off which led to the abscondment of the game at Namboole.
“Following issuance of the first circular by Fufa about new reforms that included change of format, I and SC Villa President Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela wrote and objected and we gave a detailed explanation on why we rejected the reforms,” stated Mulindwa.
“That resulted into meetings including the two at Serena Hotel, first with clubs and later with Fufa,” he continued.
Mulindwa also revealed how Fufa deviated from its earlier stance, where he says it was not about numbers but consensus over what is good for football.
He cited a few issues in the reforms, including player contracts, data sharing, revenue sharing and double headers.
“Player contracts in which a player with one year remaining on the contract can’t be licensed, player data revelation and sharing which I don’t think is wise for clubs to share, revenue collection and the double headers.”
The former Fufa President also questioned the invention instead of copying from already established leagues.
“Where are we inventing this? Why not copy from the developed leagues? Even from Africa, the strongest leagues, including our neighbours, Tanzania don’t play the kind of format they want.
“South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia had representatives in the Fifa Club World Cup with the kind of format we all know.”
The Honorary FA President hinted that he won’t be intimidated and he is ready for dismissal from the league and Ugandan football.
“I want to assure Ugandans that I can’t be intimidated, bribed, or corrupted. If you want to dismiss Vipers out of Ugandan football, I have no problem. Me I don’t feed on football; it is football that feeds on me. But Fufa feeds on football; remove football and they will not exist.
“If they are not willing to listen, I am not ready to bow down. This is the beginning of the struggle; if they don’t consider their position, we shall fight. Don’t expect to change my mind because where they are taking is gambling, manipulation of football, match fixing.”
Mulindwa also questioned the three-phase format, including the first where points are not carried forward to the next round.
“Now look at this system, you play 15 games in the first round and you earn no points apart from classifying you. Do you know how much we invest in football? You can’t tell me that no 1-8 are all same.
“Imagine that in their first circular, even points in round two didn’t count before we had engagements but tell me, after playing a round robin in this round (two), why are we playing the third round? What is the essence of the third round? Do you know how much you spend on preparing for a game? That literally means playing three leagues in one.”
On the 3.4 billion Fufa promises to invest in the new format, Mulindwa referred to that as playing on people’s minds with some clubs still earning less than 10 million in prize money.
“Even with the 3.4 billion, he is just playing on people’s heads because the last team will still earn less than 10 million prize money.
“Me, I am not ready to be manipulated. I am sorry, I will leave Ugandan football if need arises and concentrate on something else. But we are not going to allow an individual or a group of few people to disorganize Ugandan football.”
There have been reports of Fufa delaying to pay prize money to clubs and Mulindwa reaffirmed the league and cup champions have not received their reward since end of last season.
“We have not been paid the prize money from last season where we won the league and Uganda Cup. Now, where are you getting the money to do something that you have failed in the past, including giving clubs 50 million each after disbandment of facilitation to clubs in the intercontinental competitions?”
Mulindwa warned that a small group of people or an individual should never disorganize the game but we do the right things.
“I don’t want them to disorganize us because we also have the capacity to do that. I can’t be intimidated and compromised. Let us do the right things as they are supposed to be done.
“All these years, we have contributed to Ugandan football and we are proud. During Chan, Vipers had over eight players on the team and now they have called five for the game in Botswana and Algeria and I am happy. Even though we have a game against Power Dynamos on 19th [October]. I would also have loved to have my players preparing for the game but is fine. No problem because I am happy to contribute.”
In his concluding remarks, Mulindwa said he will not be taken for a ride and took a swipe at other clubs, describing them as weak and can’t stand for the rights.
“We are not going to accept to be taken for a ride. Whether the rest of the teams are asleep because of the peanuts they are going to get, I am ready to stand alone and fight for the game. Let them intimidate the other teams and not me, what I demand isn’t for me as an individual but for the game, for the voiceless clubs that can be manipulated by small money.”
With the league going into break, Vipers will return to action against Power Dynamos in the Caf Champions League second preliminary round first leg at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende on October 19.
Fight for the game 🏆🏆🏆🏆