The National Council of Sports (NCS) has allocated Sh5.5 billion to Uganda’s 18 Premier League clubs for the 2026/27 financial year, with each club entitled to an annual allocation of Sh305.55 million.
The development means that the clubs are set to receive their first-quarter funding of Sh152.77 million each, following the release of 50% of the annual subvention by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
In a letter dated September 18, 2026, addressed to the chairman of the Uganda Premier League Board, NCS said it had completed the onboarding of bank details for all 18 clubs into the Government Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), paving the way for processing of the payments.
Uganda Premier League chairman Arinaitwe Rugyendo welcomed the development, saying the release would enable clubs to access the money earmarked for their operations.
The NCS communication, however, indicates that the money is not an unrestricted cash payment for clubs to spend as they wish. Instead, the council has prescribed how the annual allocation and quarterly releases should be distributed across four specific areas.
Sh5.5bn for 18 clubs
According to the document, NCS has allocated Sh5.5 billion for the 18 UPL clubs during the 2026/27 financial year.
The arithmetic gives every club an equal annual allocation of approximately Sh305,555,556.
With the Ministry of Finance releasing 50% of the total annual subvention in the first quarter, every club is entitled to Sh152,777,778 for the first quarter.
Across the 18 clubs, the first-quarter allocation translates into approximately Sh2.75 billion, representing half of the Sh5.5 billion annual allocation.
The remaining approximately Sh2.75 billion is expected to form the balance of the annual allocation, subject to subsequent quarterly releases and the applicable Government processes.
The letter follows correspondence between NCS and the UPL Board over the clubs’ bank details and funding arrangements.
NCS says the process of onboarding bank details for all the 18 clubs into IFMS has been finalised and the system is ready to process the payments.
The development is therefore significant because it moves the Government support from the allocation stage towards actual processing through the public financial management system.
Where the money will go
The NCS has divided each club’s annual allocation into four broad categories.
The largest component, 60%, is earmarked for the welfare of players and the technical team.
For each club, this translates into an annual amount of approximately Sh183.33 million.
In the first quarter, the same category accounts for approximately Sh91.67 million per club.
The second component is 20%, described as special consideration for national team players in the club, if any. The document says that where applicable, this money is to be allocated to Item No. 3 — TID.
This component amounts to approximately Sh61.11 million annually per club, or Sh30.56 million for the first quarter.
The third component is 10% for talent identification and development.
Each club has an annual allocation of approximately Sh30.56 million under this category, translating into about Sh15.28 million during the first quarter.
The remaining 10% is for general administrative support for the club secretariat.
This also amounts to approximately Sh30.56 million annually, with Sh15.28 million available for the first quarter.
Breakdown per club
The NCS figures provide the following picture for each club:
Funding area Annual allocation Q1 allocation
Welfare for players & technical team – 60% Sh183,333,333 Sh91,666,667
Special consideration/national team players – 20% Sh61,111,111 Sh30,555,556
Talent identification & development – 10% Sh30,555,556 Sh15,277,778
General administration – 10% Sh30,555,556 Sh15,277,778
Total Sh305,555,556 Sh152,777,778
The figures show that the welfare of players and technical staff is by far the largest expenditure line, taking three-fifths of the allocation.
For the 18 clubs collectively, the annual welfare component amounts to about Sh3.3 billion, while the first-quarter welfare component is approximately Sh1.65 billion.
The 20% special consideration component accounts for roughly Sh1.1 billion annually across the league, while talent development and administrative support each account for approximately Sh550 million annually.
Not yet simply a free cash transfer
An important detail in the NCS letter is that the council’s communication is not confirmation that all the money had already reached the clubs’ bank accounts.
Instead, NCS states that it is ready to process payment after completion of the IFMS onboarding process.
The council also asks the 18 clubs to submit detailed work plans and budgets to the General Secretary to enable NCS to process the funds.
This means clubs have a financial obligation to demonstrate how they intend to use the money under the prescribed funding categories.
The requirement could also provide a framework for monitoring how Government funding is utilised, particularly the largest portion directed towards players and technical staff.
Government support to top-flight football
The Sh5.5 billion allocation represents a substantial Government commitment to the country’s top-flight football clubs.
Divided equally, the annual allocation works out at slightly more than Sh25 million per club per month on average, although the money is not structured as a monthly payment and is instead released through the Government’s quarterly funding framework.
For the first quarter, each club’s Sh152.77 million allocation represents approximately Sh50.9 million per month when averaged across three months.
However, the document makes clear that this is a quarterly allocation and not a direct monthly entitlement.
The funding also places emphasis on developing football beyond immediate match-day requirements.
The 10% talent identification and development component provides a dedicated allocation for clubs to identify and nurture emerging players.
Similarly, the administrative component is intended to support club secretariats, potentially helping clubs meet some of the organisational costs associated with running professional football institutions.
Clubs asked to prepare budgets
NCS concludes the letter by setting out three purposes for the communication.
First, it says the clubs are being informed of their allocations.
Second, the clubs are required to submit detailed work plans and budgets to the General Secretary so that the council can process the funds.
Third, NCS reaffirms its commitment to supporting the clubs in line with the approved allocations.
For the UPL, the immediate issue will therefore be ensuring that all 18 clubs comply with the financial documentation requirements so that the money can move through the Government payment system.
The allocation comes as the 2026/27 Premier League season gets underway, placing the Government subsidy at the centre of clubs’ financial planning.
Rugyendo’s message that “Clubs get their money” captures the immediate significance of the development: Government has provided the funding framework, the first-quarter money has been released to the sector, and NCS says the administrative process is now ready for payment.
The document, however, distinguishes between allocation and actual disbursement. The Sh5.5 billion is the approved annual allocation, while the first-quarter entitlement is Sh152.77 million per club and NCS says it is ready to process the payments after receiving the required work plans and budgets.
That distinction will be important as the clubs begin accessing the funds and accounting for how the money is spent.
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- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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