FUFA Big League

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations Big League, known simply as the Big League and for sponsorship purposes as the BetPawa Big League, is a professional association football league in Uganda. Contested by 16 clubs, it is the second-highest overall in the Ugandan football league system, sitting below the Uganda Premier League.

Each season, the two top-finishing teams in the Big League are automatically promoted to the Uganda Premier League. The team that finish the season in third place enter a play-off, with the winner also gaining promotion to the Uganda Premier League. The four lowest-finishing teams in the Big League are relegated to Regional Leagues.

History

Original concept The concept of re-structuring Ugandan football with the creation of a new second tier league was first mooted in October 2008 by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. The idea that was single-handedly promoted by Eng. Moses Magogo was ridiculed, resisted, and fought by everyone. Although Magogo felt abandoned but he was buoyed by the inaugural clubs that were determined to proceed. Eventually out of persistence, Magogo won one by one convert and eventually the league was passed by the FUFA Executive Committee. The new national second division league, known as the FUFA Big League (FBL), was to cater for leading sides in the five regions. Second tier sides at that time competed at the regional level, with many of them failing to cope with advancement whenever they gained promotion to the national Super League.

FUFA Competitions Committee secretary, Moses Magogo, confirmed that qualification to the Super League through the regional mini leagues would be ended and replaced by promotion through the national first division league. A major objective of the initiative was to help raise the standard of football outside the Super League.

Administration

The FUFA Big League (FBL) is managed by the FUFA Competitions Committee and was launched on 6 August 6, 2009. The following clubs are eligible to play in the FBL: Clubs that participated in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) in the previous season and were relegated; Clubs that participated in the FBL in the previous season and were not relegated to the regional leagues; Clubs that participated in the FBL in the previous season and were not promoted to the UPL; and Clubs that are promoted from the FUFA Regional Competitions through an FBL Qualification Competition.

If there are more than 16 clubs in the FBL it is divided into two groups with each group being run as a league competition. However, if there are less than 17 clubs, the competition will be run as a single group league competition.

The Competitions Committee set stringent standards for member clubs covering computer literacy, a sound bank account, stadia that meet FUFA standards, qualified coaches and doctors. The initial requirements for clubs included:

Payment of a sh250,000 registration fee; An office or physical address with a fixed telephone line, fax and e-mail address; A secretary with a minimum O-level qualification; Signing of legal declaration form covering discipline; and Submission of bank statements to the FUFA Competitions Committee.

Initial participants The 16 clubs that competed in the first season of the FBL in 2009-10 were as follows:

Participating clubsSettlementPosition in the 2008/09 season Bishop Nankyama FC Bukalasa Semi-finalists from Buganda Regional League Devine Waters FC Apac Third placed team from North Regional Super Mini League Fort Hills FC Fort Portal Third placed team from West Regional Super Mini League Gulu United FC Gulu Jinja Arsenal FC Jinja Jinja Municipal Council Hippos FC Jinja Runner-up from East Regional Super Mini League KASE FC Kampala Third placed team from Kampala Regional Super Mini League Maroons FC Kampala Runners-up from Kampala Regional Super Mini League Masaka Municipal Council FC Masaka Mbale Heroes FC Mbale Third placed team from East Regional Super Mini League Mbarara United FC Mbarara Fourteenth team in Uganda Super League Misindye FC Mukono Third placed team from Buganda Regional Super Mini League Ndejje University FC Luwero Runners-up from Buganda Regional Super Mini League Samba Boys FC Yumbe Runners-up from North Regional Super Mini League Sharing Youth FC Kampala Seventeenth team in Uganda Super League UTODA FC Kampala Semi-finalists from Kampala Regional League

Honours

Big League Championship Playoffs SeasonChampionsResultRunner-upVenue 2009-10 Maroons FC 2-0 Gulu United FC Masindi Municipal Stadium, Masindi 2010-11 Maji FC 5-2 Hoima-Busia FC Njeru Stadium, Jinja 2011-12 Entebbe Young FC 1-0 Kiira YoungNamboole Stadium, Kampala 2012-13 Bright Stars FC 2-1 CRO FC Mehta Stadium, Lugazi 2013-14Lweza FC 2-1 Sadolin Bugembe FC KCCA STADIUM, Lugogo 2014–15 Maroons FC 1-0 The Saints FC Phillip Omondi Stadium 2015–16 Kirinya Jinja SS 2-0 Onduparaka FC Nakivubo Stadium 2016–17 Maroons FC 2-1 Masavu FC Phillip Omondi Stadium 2017–18 Ndejje University FC 1-0 Nyamityobora FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo 2018–19 Proline FC 1-0 Wakiso Giants FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo

Big League Promotion Playoffs SeasonWinnersResultRunner-upVenue 2009-10 UTODA FC 1-0 Misindye FC Kampala 2010-11 Bul FC 1-0 [aet] Iganga Municipal Council FC 2011-12 SC Victoria University 4-0 Aurum Roses FCNamboole Stadium, Kampala 2012-13 Soana FC 3-0 Koboko FC Mehta Stadium, Lugazi 2015–16 Proline FC 4–1 Sporting United (Lira) Nakivubo Stadium 2017–18 Paidha Black Angels FC 0–0 (p. 4-2) Kitara FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo 2018-19 Kyetume FC 4–1 Kansai Plascon FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo

Big League Group honours

Elgon Group SeasonGroup WinnersPlayoff Qualifier 1Playoff Qualifier 2 2009-10 Gulu United FC (P) UTODA FC (P) 2010-11 Hoima-Busia FC (P) Bul FC (P) Iganga Municipal Council FC 2011-12 Entebbe Young FC (P) Mbarara Old Timers FC CRO FC 2012-13 CRO FC (P) Soroti Garage FC Mbale Heroes FC 2013-14 Sadolin Paints FC (P) KJT Rwenshama (P) Kirinya Jinja SSS 2014-15 Maroons FC (P) 2015-16 2016-17 Maroons FC (P) Ndejje University Kiira United 2017-18 Ndejje University (P) Paidha Black Angels (P) Kyetume FC 2018-19 Wakiso Giants FC (P) Kyetume FC (P) UPDF 2019-20

Rwenzori Group SeasonGroup WinnersPlayoff Qualifier 1Playoff Qualifier 2 2009-10 Maroons FC (P) Misindye FC 2010-11 Maji FC (P) Boroboro Tigers FC CRO FC 2011-12 Kiira Young (P) SC Victoria University (P) Aurum Roses FC 2012-13 Bright Stars FC (P) Soana FC (P) Koboko FC 2013-14 Lweza FC (P) Baza Holdings Mutundwe Lions 2014-15 The Saints FC (P) 2015-16 2016-17 Masavu FC (P) Synergy FC Mbarara City FC (P) 2017-18 Nyamityobora FC (P) Kitara FC Kabale Sharp FC 2018-19 Proline FC (P) Kansai Plascon FC Dove FC 2019-20

Single table era SeasonWinnerRunner-UpThird Place 2021-22 Blacks Power (P) Maroons (P) Kyetume 2022-23 Kitara (P) Mbarara City (P) NEC (P)

Player Honours SeasonMost Valuable PlayerTop Scorer 2014–15 Fred Kalanzi, Lweza FC (9 goals) 2015–16 Muhammad Shaban, Onduparaka FC Edrisa Lubega, Proline FC (19 goals) 2016–17 Patrick Kaddu, Maroons FC (16 goals) 2017–18 2018–19 Bright Anukani, Proline FC Ivan Bogere, Proline FC (14 goals)

Sponsorship On 1 November 2013, it was announced that the Airtel Telecommunications company had signed a four-year contract providing a total of 400 million shillings (about 160,000 US dollars) towards funding different activities under both the FUFA Big League and the Ugandan Cup until 2016.

FUFA Big League

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