The Uganda Premier League (UPL) has secured a Shs204 million partnership with Centenary Bank, a milestone agreement that signals growing corporate confidence in local football as management aggressively pursues a sustainable commercial model.
The deal, which takes immediate effect, was officially unveiled on Monday at Centenary Bank’s headquarters at Mapeera House in Kampala. The partnership establishes the financial institution as the league’s official banking partner.
Funding breakdown and digital ticketing
The sponsorship package provides targeted financial support designed to elevate both matchday experiences and league management:
Shs100 million is allocated to general league operations.
Shs100 million is dedicated to boosting media and promotional activities.
Shs4 million is set aside directly for competition cash prizes.
Beyond direct funding, the partnership introduces a major technological upgrade for fans. Centenary Bank’s mobile payment platform, Gonza Pay, will officially power digital ticketing at league matches, streamlining stadium access and modernizing revenue collection.
A vote of confidence over cash
For UPL Chief Executive Officer Bernard Bainamani, the symbolic value of the agreement far outweighs the monetary figures on paper.
“I personally don’t look at the figures in the contract. It’s the confidence the sponsors have shown by investing their money. This is what we have to protect jealously,” Bainamani stated during the launch.
The CEO openly acknowledged that securing corporate backing has historically been an uphill battle due to structural issues and damaging internal politics.
“It has actually taken us so long to get partners because of the structures we were operating in,” Bainamani admitted. “But the biggest setback has been the negative stories around the Uganda Premier League. This has stalled us a lot in many spheres.”
He noted that corporate brands avoided the league in the past because of administrative infighting.
“There have been many wars, and many corporate partners don’t want to associate themselves with sports associations that are at war,” he explained. “But the wars have now ceased, and the next step in our strategy is to commercialise the sport while creating awareness among the fans and clubs to take the sport as a commercial product rather than a leisure investment.”
Eyes on future growth
With a stable administrative environment and improved playing facilities now anchoring the competition, the UPL Board is aiming to aggressively expand its commercial portfolio.
While television broadcaster StarTimes remains a foundational pillar of the league’s financial framework, leadership is actively scouting for new partnerships. The league has set its sights on attracting more major corporate players, specifically eyeing high-value sponsorships from the brewing and telecommunications sectors to further accelerate the commercialization of Ugandan football.
