Mawejje’s Muteesa I Royal University begin title defence against Bugema
David GOMBE
The 2026/27 Pepsi University Football League will officially get underway on Thursday, 22nd October, with reigning champions Muteesa I Royal University visiting Bugema University at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Under the stewardship of former Uganda Cranes midfielder Tonny Mawejje, Muteesa I Royal University will hope to begin the campaign on a positive note at the venue where they clinched the title in May this year.
Mawejje, assisted by former Uganda Cranes winger Vincent Kayizzi, will be seeking to lead the Masaka-based institution to another successful season.
This season will have three new entrants Metropolitan International University, Seeta University and World Mission Frontiers University and will be played in a newly introduced format, where each university will play six matches, including three home fixtures.
The top two teams in the regionalised group format will qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, alongside the two best-performing teams outside the automatic qualification places.
The group stage is scheduled to conclude on April 4, 2027, with the second round expected to begin on February 2. The season is expected to climax on May 8th, 2027.
Meanwhile, each university will have a maximum of two players who have featured in the Masaza Cup, a measure expected to influence recruitment and squad selection ahead of the new campaign.
Muteesa I Royal University won their maiden UFL title in the 2025/26 campaign. They defeated YMCA Comprehensive Institute 1-0 in the final on May 2, 2026, at Nakivubo Stadium, thanks to Sam Mutambo’s sole goal.
2026/27 UFL Groups
Group A — Eastern Region
Uganda Martyrs University, Busitema University, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), World Mission Frontiers University, Soroti University, Kumi University, King Ceasor University, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Metropolitan International University, Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Group B — Western Region
Muteesa I Royal University, Bishop Stuart University, Mountains of the Moon University, Kabale University, St. Lawrence University, Nkumba University, Makerere University, Kampala International University (KIU), ISBAT University, Bugema University, International University of East Africa (IUEA).
Group C — Northern Region
Lira University, Muni University, Gulu University, YMCA Comprehensive Institute, Kampala University (KU), Kyambogo University, University of Kisubi (UNIK), Seeta University, Ndejje University, Africa Renewal University.
Previous UFL Winners:
•2012: Makerere University
•2013: Kampala University
•2014: Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
•2015: Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
•2016: Kampala University
•2017: Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi
•2018: Kyambogo University
•2019: Uganda Christian University (UCU)
•2020–2021: Competition not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
•2022: Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi
•2023: Nkumba University
•2024/25: Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi
•2025/26: Muteesa I Royal University