Before August 2023, the consumption of some substances appearing on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list constituted a criminal offence under Uganda’s general criminal statutes. However, the list was neither comprehensive nor aligned with the continually evolving WADA Anti-Doping Code. This gap was addressed through the enactment of Uganda’s National Sport Act, which broadly prohibits doping. Following WADA’s recommendations, the Act was further streamlined in January 2025 to ensure full alignment with the World Anti-Doping Code.

Under the current legal framework, the use of any prohibited substance to enhance performance, as well as any violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, is criminalised. Consequently, all substances and methods banned under the Code are equally prohibited in Uganda. At the time of writing, Uganda is actively developing its National Anti-Doping Regulations. Draft regulations are undergoing review by relevant stakeholders.

The National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO)

Although the Sports Act establishes an independent NADO, the Uganda Olympic Committee is currently fulfilling this role in practice, as the statutory NADO is not yet fully constituted or operational. Nonetheless, the NADO office is in the process of recruiting staff and is expected to commence formal operations in the near future.

NADO is mandated to develop a national strategy for promoting and implementing the WADA Code, conduct athlete testing, investigate doping matters, address doping in sport, undertake related research, deliver anti-doping education, and carry out additional responsibilities within its remit.

Doping Sanctions

Doping sanctions are widely observed and enforced across Uganda’s sporting landscape. Professional sports leagues and governing bodies include anti-doping clauses in their constitutive instruments. In 2026, for example, Mercyline Chelangat – bronze medallist at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – received a five-year ban after testing revealed adverse analytical findings for three prohibited substances.

The law generally prohibits any person, including athletes, from manipulating sports results or the overall course of a sports competition. To achieve this objective, the law outlines several actions that may constitute manipulation. These include the direct or indirect promise, offer, solicitation, or acceptance of an undue sporting advantage intended to alter or influence the outcome or progression of a sports event.

The National Sports Act, Cap 151, further criminalises match fixing, particularly when it is connected to illegal betting activities. It also makes it an offence to share confidential information related to any sport when such information is used to fix or influence a sports result. Additionally, the Act prohibits schemes designed to use money or any other form of reward to induce individuals or teams to underperform or withdraw from a sporting event.

Referees, umpires, match adjudicators, and other sports officials are recognised as key targets for those seeking to manipulate sports outcomes. To address this vulnerability, the Sports Act makes it an offence for any sports official to deliberately misapply the rules of a sport in exchange for financial or other benefits.

In line with global best practices, the Sports Act also acknowledges the potential involvement of playground staff, venue owners, curators, and individuals responsible for maintaining playing surfaces. Preparing a playing field in a manner intended to influence a sports result is similarly prohibited, as these actions are considered harmful to fair competition.

The laws against match fixing and manipulation are being reasonably observed in Uganda. In 2024, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations imposed bans on 12 individuals for involvement in match manipulation. The sanctions ranged from lifetime bans to ten‑year, five‑year, three‑year, and one‑year penalties, affecting referees, players, and technical staff.

Betting activities are legally permissible in Uganda. Individuals aged 25 and above may place bets with licensed betting operators. These licensed companies may operate through physical premises, online platforms, or a combination of both.

The Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334 (the Gaming Act), is the primary law governing sports betting and casino activities in Uganda. It establishes the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board and grants it the authority to regulate the betting industry. The Gaming Act also outlines the licensing framework and categories, sets out the gaming tax, establishes the National Electronic Monitoring System for monitoring gaming activities, and prescribes various betting‑related offences.

Offences under the Gaming Act include accepting bets from minors, conducting gaming activities (physically or online) without a licence, promoting unlicensed gaming operations, forging lottery tickets, and committing tax‑related violations, among others.

The Gaming Act is supplemented by the Sports Act, which prohibits match officials, referees, coaches, athletes, owners of sports clubs, and members or employees of sports bodies (including federations) from participating in any betting activity. This prohibition is intended to protect sports from manipulation linked to betting.

Statistics indicate that over 90% of sports manipulation in Ugandan football is related to betting. In 2023, for example, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) banned referee George Nkurunziza for ten years due to betting‑related match‑fixing.

The level of information sharing between sports bodies and stakeholders on betting‑related issues remains low. Nevertheless, there are notable incidents, such as the 2021 arrest of Ugandan national Ronald Mugisha in neighbouring Kenya, following a tip‑off from a local betting firm. Reports indicated that he was part of a group involved in using players to fix local Premier League matches for betting purposes.

The disciplinary framework for athletes involved in doping, integrity, and betting offences in Uganda generally operates across three tiers. The first tier is the internal club-level disciplinary system, followed by disciplinary processes administered by the relevant sports federation. These two tiers are sport‑specific. The third tier is the external criminal justice system, which applies broadly and is not limited to sports.

At the club level, disciplinary action is primarily governed by the law of contract. It is standard practice for clubs to include provisions or clauses in player contracts prohibiting betting, sports manipulation, or breaches of the anti‑doping code. A breach of these provisions may attract disciplinary sanctions, including unilateral termination or suspension of the player’s contract with just cause.

However, due to the wider implications and legal obligations surrounding these types of offences, they are often not handled at the club level but referred to the appropriate sports federation. At this stage, clubs commonly suspend the players’ contracts pending a determination or investigation by the responsible federation. If the player is eventually found guilty, the contract is immediately suspended.

At the federation level, when credible allegations are raised against a player, the individual is suspended from any sports activity pending full investigation and the hearing of their case. Although players are allowed legal representation, many go through the process unrepresented.

The hearing panel is often composed of individuals knowledgeable about the sport, including former players. At the appellate level, some panels include members with legal qualifications. In many federations, there is no clear distinction between the investigatory team, the prosecution team, and the sports federation itself.

After the hearing, the panel retires to deliver its verdict. Any party aggrieved by the decision may appeal to an internal appellate panel. A further appeal may lie with the international federation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), or the yet‑to‑be operationalised National Sports Arbitration Panel(s). The exact appellate structure varies by federation.

The Criminal Justice System and Crimes in Sport

The third tier – Uganda’s ordinary criminal justice system – is an additional avenue, though one seldom used for players. It is more commonly applied to third‑party actors who are not licensed or recognised within the sports ecosystem.

Certain offences may be categorised as purely “sports crimes”, while others fall under “crimes in sports”. Because the National Sports Act forms part of Uganda’s legal framework, any person, including players, who commits an offence under the Act may be prosecuted accordingly.

The Uganda Police Force has the constitutional mandate to investigate suspected offences and bring charges against persons involved in doping or match‑fixing. After investigations, the case file is forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who may sanction prosecution or return the file for further inquiries.

If the DPP sanctions the case, the accused is arraigned in court for plea taking. A guilty plea results in immediate conviction and sentencing. If the accused pleads not guilty, a full hearing follows, during which prosecutors present evidence. If the Magistrate finds that a prima facie case exists, the accused is required to present a defence, after which the Magistrate renders judgment. The judgment is appealable to the High Court.

Uganda’s sports‑related rights landscape continues to grow steadily, with several key rights categories becoming increasingly significant. Below are some of the most notable areas.

Trade Secrets

In Uganda, trade secrets include information relating to formulas, patterns, compilations, programmes, methods, techniques, or processes. In the sports sector, this may cover coaching tactics, methods for producing sports equipment, merchandise strategies, and other sensitive operational information. These are protected under the Trade Secrets Protection Act, Cap 80.

This form of protection does not require registration, which benefits sports clubs and organisations that wish to maintain confidentiality while still enjoying legal protection. Typically, individuals granted access to such information must sign Non‑Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). If someone discloses or misuses protected information, they can be sued under the Act.

Venue Naming Rights

Sports venues in Uganda are increasingly engaging in naming‑rights deals with companies seeking brand visibility among fans. One of the most successful examples is the partnership between MTN Uganda and Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC).

Through this deal, KCCA FC granted MTN Uganda the naming rights to its home stadium, now known as the MTN Philip Omondi Stadium. MTN also has branded displays and materials throughout the venue, enhancing its visibility among supporters. As more sports facilities continue to emerge across the country, naming‑rights agreements are becoming more appealing to corporate sponsors.

However, a key commercial risk is the limitation such deals may place on hosting events sponsored by rival brands. For instance, Airtel Uganda, MTN’s major competitor and sponsor of the Masaza Cup, is unlikely to host its events at the MTN‑branded stadium. As a result, alternative venues would typically be preferred.

Ticketing and Hospitality Rights

Ticketing and hospitality rights are also evolving, particularly in the digital space. Several digital ticketing companies are partnering with sports clubs, leagues, and federations to provide enhanced digital ticketing and hospitality experiences.

Notable collaborations include:

• Next Ticket with KCCA FC; and
• Vipers SC with Quicket.

These partnerships categorise tickets based on unique venue experiences and hospitality offerings. Many agreements do not transfer full ticketing rights; instead, they provide partial rights, as Ugandan sports fans are still transitioning toward widespread adoption of online ticketing.

A major milestone in this space was achieved during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, hosted in 2025 by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. It introduced Uganda to its first fully digitalised ticketing experience for a major tournament. Due to high ticket demand, secondary sales also appeared on the black market at inflated prices – an unprecedented occurrence in Uganda. As of the time of this writing, no law specifically prohibits such reselling practices.

Sports rights holders mainly use two approaches to attract sponsors: selling sports rights jointly as a sports league, or selling them separately as individual clubs or federations. The approach that consistently attracts stronger sponsorship figures is joint rights sales. Examples of successful sponsorship agreements include the Startimes sponsorship of the Uganda Premier League, the Finance Trust Women’s Super League, the Nile Special Rugby Premiership, the Nile National Pool Open, and similar deals.

One of the tactics sports bodies use to enhance sponsor value is offering naming rights for a club or league as part of the main sponsorship package. Notable club examples include the Stanbic Bank Pirates (Rugby), the City Oilers (Basketball), and Soltilo Bright Stars FC.

A key term in any sponsorship agreement is exclusivity. Sponsors require assurance that no third party – especially a direct competitor – will access the same rights or engage in ambush marketing. Such ambush tactics may include sponsoring teams in a league where a rival holds the main sponsorship or selling competing products at events sponsored by another brand. Clear protections in the agreement help prevent these issues.

For clubs, it is also important to clearly segment advertising spaces available on the playing kit. These include the front of the shirt, the sleeves, and the lower back. Each of these positions can potentially be allocated to different sponsors, provided the segmentation is clear and well‑defined.

The National Sports Act, Cap 151, protects broadcasting rights, but only in a limited way. The Act restricts protection to events organised by a national sports federation or association. As a result, sports events held in Uganda but owned by international sports bodies remain vulnerable to abuse.

For example, the African Cup of Nations finals (AFCON) in 2027 will be partly hosted in Uganda. However, the broadcasting rights for this tournament belong to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), not FUFA, the local federation. This means that illegal broadcasts of AFCON 2027 matches played in Uganda would not constitute a violation of the National Sports Act. The same challenge applies to other international sports products such as the English Premier League and the FIFA World Cup.

In practice, broadcasting rights are typically licensed exclusively to a major broadcaster within a given territory, who then distributes the content to the public via television subscriptions. Subscribers usually access this content through TV or mobile streaming. However, since the COVID-19 period, illegal streaming has sharply increased. Rights holders have attempted to curb this rise, but with minimal success.

The situation is even more severe for live‑audio broadcasts. Many radio stations transmit major sports events without acquiring the necessary licences. Because the protection of such broadcasting rights is territorial, and enforcement often depends on the presence or involvement of local rights holders, safeguarding these rights becomes difficult in practice.

Discovery Sports Limited (DSL) was the first entity to acquire exclusive live‑audio broadcasting rights for the English Premier League in Uganda. Despite DSL’s engagement with stakeholders to promote respect for these rights, compliance remained low. DSL ultimately filed a case before the High Court, and proceedings are ongoing. The dispute centres on the protection of the EPL live‑audio broadcasting rights in Uganda. DSL, as a licensee of talkSPORT, holds the exclusive rights in the territory, yet several radio stations continue to broadcast EPL matches without authorisation. Through this case, DSL seeks to halt the ongoing violations.

Local sports leagues, meanwhile, jointly trade their broadcasting rights through clubs and relevant sports federations. Only a few of these arrangements generate significant revenue, the most notable being the agreement between the Uganda Premier League and StarTimes Uganda. However, this deal has faced repeated strains, leading to several game weeks without televised coverage due to disputes among the federation, some clubs, fans, and the broadcaster. For now, relations appear to have stabilised.

In other instances, some federations grant their broadcasting rights to media houses without receiving monetary compensation. The justification for such arrangements is the promise of increased visibility to attract fans, along with more media exposure that could later support negotiations for stronger sponsorship deals.

There is also a growing trend of private vloggers and Over‑The‑Top streamers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. These individuals often use simple devices, such as mobile phones, to stream live games to their online audiences. Although this is technically a violation of broadcasting rights, enforcement is rare. This is partly because such unauthorised streams can still offer value by increasing fan reach and engagement.

At present, there are no stand‑alone proprietary rights in sports events as such. Even key individuals who attend these events have limited privacy rights because they are in public spaces with large crowds and extensive camera installations.

Nonetheless, the contractual relationship between fans and event organisers governs the interactions between attendees and organisers. One of the key terms typically included in these agreements is that individuals are not permitted to stream the events without prior clearance from the organisers. This restriction is reinforced by the National Sports Act, which prohibits the capturing of moving or still images at sports events for commercial purposes without authorisation from the relevant sports federation.

Other general laws on public health and safety – such as those relating to venue cleanliness, food safety, structural integrity, security checks, restrictions on smoking in public spaces, and the prohibition of hooliganism – continue to apply at sports events.

Sports venues are generally managed by a collaborative team comprising league organisers or the responsible federation, the hosting clubs, venue owners, security agencies including the Uganda Police Force, medical teams, trained stewards, and leaders of fan groups. These parties form ad hoc committees to oversee the successful hosting and management of each sports event.

In Uganda, sports event organisers who control or manage venues owe a duty of care under the doctrine of occupiers’ liability, grounded primarily in the common law of negligence as applied by Ugandan courts. An organiser is considered an “occupier” when they have sufficient control over the premises – whether a stadium, training ground, or temporary event space – to prevent or reduce foreseeable risks. This duty extends to spectators, athletes, officials, employees, volunteers, and invited guests, and requires organisers to take reasonable steps to ensure that the premises are safe for the purposes for which persons are invited or permitted to be there. Ugandan courts generally follow English common law principles, particularly the test of reasonable foreseeability of harm, when determining whether an occupier has breached this duty.

For sports events, the scope of the duty of care is heightened by the inherently risky nature of sporting activities and the presence of large crowds. Organisers are expected to anticipate risks such as structural failures of stands, inadequate crowd control, poor pitch conditions, insufficient medical preparedness, and unsafe ingress and egress routes. Compliance with sectoral standards set by local federations and police safety requirements serves as persuasive evidence of reasonable care, although it does not automatically absolve an organiser of liability. Where an injury arises from a hazard that was known or ought reasonably to have been known, Ugandan courts are likely to find negligence if the organiser failed to conduct proper risk assessments, provide adequate warnings, or implement reasonable safety measures.

Importantly, occupiers’ liability in Uganda cannot be fully excluded through disclaimers or ticket conditions, especially where injuries result from gross negligence or failures affecting public safety. While organisers may limit liability for ordinary risks inherent in sport, they remain legally responsible for preventable dangers arising from poor planning or inadequate supervision. As sports events in Uganda expand in scale and commercial value, organisers are increasingly expected to adopt professional risk management practices – such as obtaining insurance cover, preparing comprehensive emergency response plans, and clearly allocating safety responsibilities – to meet their duty of care and reduce legal exposure.

Another approach to mitigating risk is obtaining insurance coverage. Policies may cover specific risks, such as fire outbreaks, or may offer comprehensive protection with a cap on the compensation payable for claims.

Athletes are generally not liable for harm caused to spectators during sporting activities. However, if an athlete acts in a manner that triggers civil or criminal liability – such as violently attacking a fan – then, in addition to sports-related sanctions, criminal or civil proceedings may be instituted against the athlete.

The National Sports Act, Cap 151, broadly criminalises any form of violence or hooliganism at sports events. Acts aimed at injuring a person, destroying property, disturbing the peace or order of a sports event, intimidating athletes or officials, and similar conduct constitute criminal offences.

At the time of publication, sports federations and associations in Uganda are registered as Trusts. However, the National Sports Act, Cap 151, introduced a new framework that designates sports federations and sports associations as bodies corporate. As a result, these entities now acquire corporate status automatically, without requiring additional formalities.

The National Council for Sports (NCS) is currently undertaking the re‑registration of sports federations and associations as bodies corporate under the Sports Act. This process is expected to be completed by mid‑2026.

Regarding sports clubs, there are no legal restrictions on the form they must take. In practice, however, sports clubs are typically incorporated as private limited liability companies. Clubs owned by individuals are registered as companies limited by shares, while community‑owned clubs are registered as companies limited by guarantee, without shares.

This corporate structure enables clubs to attract investment more effectively and to access various financing models, including loans and grants.

There are generally no unique corporate governance codes specifically designed for sports entities in Uganda. However, there are certain adopted practices that uphold core corporate governance standards.

For sports federations and associations, the regulator – the National Council for Sports – requires them to maintain a constitution, hold annual general assemblies, conduct regular elections, and have their accounts audited annually.

Sports clubs in Uganda also do not have distinct corporate governance codes. Since many clubs are incorporated as companies, they follow general corporate governance principles. Additionally, some sports federations, such as FUFA, have established minimum governance standards. These include requirements for clubs to employ a minimum number of staff, maintain a separate bank account, and hold a specified number of meetings. These standards function as licensing conditions for each competitive season.

Uganda does not apply a fit‑and‑proper test for directors or owners of sports entities. The main requirements are disclosure of these individuals and ensuring that no officials use the club as a vehicle for money laundering. There are also no penalties for clubs that become insolvent. However, in football, any change in a club’s name or ownership must receive prior approval from the relevant federation, such as FUFA.

The government is the primary funder of sports in Uganda. In the forthcoming financial year (2026–2027), the state has allocated UGX1.5 trillion to the sports sub‑sector. Most of this funding will go toward the construction and improvement of sports infrastructure.

State entities also support or own sports clubs. Eight out of the sixteen Uganda Premier League clubs are owned by state entities or corporations. This includes the record league winners, KCCA FC. Other clubs under state ownership or support include Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club, Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation – Entebbe Football Club, Uganda Police, and the National Enterprise Corporation, among others.

Another major source of funding comes from private individuals. Ugandans such as Dr Lawrence Mulindwa of Vipers FC and Hajji Musa Atagenda of Wakiso Giants have made significant private investments in Ugandan sports. Additionally, community clubs form another category of support, where local communities collectively contribute to sustaining their local teams.

The sports landscape in Uganda features a wide range of local and international trade marks. Most of these trade marks are owned by clubs across various sporting disciplines, including football, rugby, basketball, motorsport, and netball.

Trade marks are protected properties under the Trademarks Act, Cap 225. Both local and international marks may be registered in Uganda, regardless of whether they are currently in active use. However, trade mark protection is not indefinite. An initial registration is valid for seven years, after which it may be renewed for successive ten‑year terms indefinitely.

Unfortunately, many trade mark owners are unaware of these renewal requirements, leaving their marks vulnerable to misuse. The Trademarks Registry regularly publishes lists of expired marks, and recent publications include major international trade marks – such as those belonging to well‑known brands like FIFA – where little or no effort has been made to renew them. This situation creates opportunities for trade mark squatters to claim these marks within the Ugandan jurisdiction.

Intellectual property assets – such as photos, videos, team anthems, drawings, sculptures, and similar works – are protected as copyrightable material under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, Cap 222.

Copyright protection arises automatically and does not depend on any registration formalities. However, registration is recommended as an additional safeguard for these assets.

Beyond legal protection, copyright registration also helps sports bodies document their intellectual property and record it as part of their company assets. It further facilitates transactions involving intellectual property, such as licensing and assignment.

Despite these benefits, copyright registration levels remain significantly lower than those for trade marks. This leaves many works vulnerable to misuse and increases the likelihood of disputes. When disputes arise, common defences include fair use and independent creation.

Sports Database Rights

The collection of sports data in Uganda has historically been limited. However, with the growing availability of data-harvesting technologies – such as wearable player tracking vests, optical tracking systems, and smart sensors – the volume of sports data being generated has risen considerably.

Generally, ownership of this data lies with the individuals or entities that collect it, or with those who commission others to collect it on their behalf. In recent developments, some sports federations have begun requiring league clubs to systematically harvest such data and make it available to the clubs.

A number of Ugandan athletes, such as Allan Okello and Dennis Onyango, are increasingly becoming aware of their image rights and are actively taking steps to exploit them. With support from more professional sports agents and managers, players are now better positioned to build and commercially leverage their personal brands. As a result, many athletes are signing contracts and serving as ambassadors for various brands across the country.

Ugandan law has consistently recognised and protected image rights, and the Courts have repeatedly underscored that this protection applies to everyone, including athletes. In the past, there was confusion regarding the ownership of players’ image rights. Sports federations often believed that they held these rights. However, in the recent case of Pro‑Line Soccer Academy Limited v MTN Uganda Limited and M/s CQ Saathi & Saathi & FUFA (U) Limited, UGCommC 13 (Civil Suit 317 of 2011), the Court clarified that federations do not own players’ image rights. Although the National Sports Act, Cap 151, appears to grant federations broad control over commercial rights, image rights remain primarily vested in the players themselves.

While some players sign contracts that license their image rights to their clubs, best practice dictates that playing rights should be kept separate from image rights. This separation allows athletes greater flexibility to commercialise their image, develop their personal brand, and secure independent endorsement opportunities.

Player image rights protection in Uganda is reinforced by the common‑law doctrine of passing off. This means that if anyone uses a player’s image for commercial gain without holding a valid licence, the player can successfully seek legal redress before the High Court. This position is illustrated by the earlier case of Proline Soccer Academy v MTN Uganda and Others, which confirms the courts’ willingness to protect players’ image rights under the doctrine of passing off.

The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, Cap 222, provides a framework that allows copyright proprietors to license the use of their works to third parties. This is done through licensing agreements, which must be in writing. These agreements are also registrable with the Registrar of Copyrights.

There are no limitations on the assignment of IP rights in Uganda. However, an assignee should conduct thorough due diligence to ensure that the rights being acquired originate from the rightful proprietors.

Assignment agreements must be in writing, and they are also registrable.

A limited number of clubs can afford to extract sports data from athletes. For those that can, the data collected from players is used to monitor and profile them, improve performance, and promote players for international transfers.

There is also more data available on spectator numbers and preferences. Clubs and federations use this information to persuade potential sponsors. After a sponsorship deal is agreed, clubs then use the data to drive more value in the sponsor relationship. For example, if the data shows that more fans consume a particular product from the sponsor’s catalogue, that product is made more available during sports events to encourage higher sales.

The Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap 97 (DPPA), is the primary statute governing data protection and privacy in Uganda. Although the GDPR does not directly apply to Uganda, the provisions of the DPPA largely reflect the principles found in the GDPR.

The DPPA applies broadly to all entities operating in Uganda, including sports clubs and federations. In addition to national legislation, these sports bodies are also subject to the Data Protection Regulations issued by their respective international federations, such as FIFA.

Fundamental principles of data protection and privacy – such as data subject consent, data security, data minimisation, lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, storage limitation, accuracy, accountability, and related obligations – remain fully applicable.

In practice, however, many sports bodies have not yet achieved strong compliance with their data protection and privacy duties, and enforcement levels remain relatively low. Despite this, awareness among parents is gradually increasing, particularly as they register their children in academies and junior teams. This growing awareness is steadily drawing attention to data protection issues and contributing to improved compliance levels.

Previously, the Courts of Law would entertain sports-related matters, and a number of cases were handled by the High Court, with some remaining active to date. However, the nascent National Sports Act, Cap 151, now prohibits the filing of any sports matters before the ordinary Courts of Law.

Going forward, it is expected that all sports matters will be subject to mandatory arbitration under the National Sports Act, and that decisions arising from this process will be final and binding. However, the dispute resolution system established under the Act is not yet operational. This has left many questions unresolved regarding the appropriate dispute resolution forum for issues arising during this transitional period.

Where a dispute is an internal club dispute, and subject to the contractual provisions binding the parties, the matter should first be addressed through the club’s internal mechanisms. Clubs often have internal appellate processes available for any party dissatisfied with the initial findings.

Any person not satisfied with the final internal outcome may then appeal to the responsible sports federation. Federations typically have their own internal dispute resolution panels that handle disputes arising between clubs, as well as other matters assigned to them under their statutes. Federations also operate appellate tribunals that review matters escalated from the first‑instance panels.

A party aggrieved by the decision of an appellate tribunal may further appeal the matter to the National Sports Arbitration panels. However, because these panels are not yet operational, international sports dispute resolution bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) are currently competent to hear such appeals.

Sports bodies have the authority to enforce both local and international sports sanctions, including financial penalties. This authority is primarily derived from the statutes that establish the sports federations and empower them to regulate their members, which include sports clubs.

The sanctions imposed may include fines payable to the federation or bans from participating in the relevant sporting discipline. In certain cases, federations may also request support from their international governing body to enforce sanctions that apply on a worldwide basis.

Employment of sportswomen and sportsmen in Uganda is primarily governed by the Employment Act, Cap 226. Sports clubs enter into employment contracts with their players and are required to adhere to the general principles of employment law, including non‑discrimination and respect for employees’ rights.

Some sports federations require clubs to register the employment contracts with the federation before the contracts are considered enforceable. Although this practice may not fully align with Uganda’s Employment Act, Cap 226, it has not yet been tested before a judicial body.

Uganda does not currently have salary caps for athletes, nor are there formal collective bargaining arrangements in place. However, efforts are ongoing to establish a Players’ Union.

The rules that govern employee rights in Uganda apply directly to sports bodies without any exceptions. Athletes are regarded as professional employees and are therefore entitled to the full range of rights provided under the law.

In the recent case of Ineah Joel v Bright Stars Football Club, the FUFA Dispute Resolution Committee found that the club had breached the player’s employment contract and violated the rights contained therein. As a result, the club was ordered to pay compensation to the player.

Generally, there are no specific laws that limit the number of foreign players a club may have. However, individual sports federations may impose their own restrictions. For example, in football, FUFA currently limits the number of non‑nationals to five, while most other federations remain largely silent on the matter.

Regarding visas, the requirements are set by immigration laws and do not contain any special provisions for sports. Foreigners may obtain work permits in Uganda, provided they meet the general requirements, such as having a valid offer of employment, a certificate of good conduct, and other relevant qualifications. Uganda does not have any unique restrictions on the free movement or transfer of players.

In spite of historical imbalances, women’s sport in Uganda is experiencing steady growth. A substantial number of sports disciplines now have stand‑alone women’s leagues, and these competitions are increasingly attracting strong sponsorship. For example, Finance Trust Bank recently invested Uganda shillings two billion into the Women’s Super League. In some disciplines, such as Pool, prize money for female and male players is now equal.

However, several challenges and inequalities continue to persist. Transfer fees for women remain low, and free transfers are still common. Although women do sign employment contracts, wages are often very low, and in some cases players are not paid at all. Additionally, very few clubs have safeguarding policies in place, leaving female athletes vulnerable to various forms of abuse.

Viewership and fan engagement for women’s sports remain low. To address this, some federations are experimenting with scheduling women’s games on the same day and at the same venues as men’s games, while selling joint tickets that provide access to both events.

At the Pool Championship, for example, women and men compete simultaneously. Other federations are instead choosing to schedule women’s games at times such as Sunday mornings – periods with no competing events – so they can secure available television airtime.

Sponsors are also allocating specific funding exclusively for the development of women’s sports programmes and the professional growth of female athletes.

Esports in Uganda has experienced tremendous growth, particularly since the late 2000s. The rise of football e‑games such as FIFA, Football Manager, and PES played a major role in boosting local interest in competitive gaming. This growth was further supported by the emergence of gaming parlours across major shopping arcades in the capital city, Kampala.

Combat games such as Tekken and Mortal Kombat also attracted a strong following among gaming enthusiasts. The increasing popularity of esports and gaming has been enhanced by greater access to mobile phones and the internet.

In addition, the past 15 years have seen significant developments in the industry, with many young people shifting from being purely players to becoming game developers themselves.

While the sector continues to face challenges – particularly high infrastructure and equipment costs – it is gradually developing as a viable career path. This growth is being driven in part by tournaments and increased female participation, supported by organisations such as ARUDEM and Gaming Girls Uganda. ARUDEM, a game development hub in Uganda, has made notable progress in the esports space through its various game development projects.

There has also been a deliberate effort to attract more women to participate in esports. Gaming Girls Uganda is at the forefront of this movement, organising female‑only competitions and representing the country in continental events. These efforts are further strengthened by partnerships with regional organisations like SAGES, which is working to advance gaming and esports across Africa.

Later this March, Uganda will host the SAGES Swahili Esport Champions 2026 summit. The summit aims to bring together key stakeholders – federations, institutions, investors, and organisers – to align around a unified vision for the development of esports in the region.

However, despite this momentum, the industry still lacks a comprehensive formal regulatory framework to govern esports and its operations. Uganda’s new sports law introduces specific requirements for association registration, and the esports community currently lacks the capacity needed to meet the criteria for national recognition. Nonetheless, gradual progress is being made.

The sports sector in Uganda is largely unaware of the potential of NFTs. Currently, there is no evidence that any sports body in the country is exploring or assessing the use of NFTs. However, some private actors – including the author – have consistently highlighted the opportunities these technologies present.

Uganda’s sporting history features many moments that would be ideal for NFT development. These include John Akii-Bua winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal, Joshua Cheptegei breaking multiple world records, the outstanding performances of the Uganda Netball team, and Farouk Miya’s iconic goal that qualified Uganda for AFCON after 39 years.

Uganda currently has no specific regulations governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI), either broadly or within the sports sub‑sector. As a result, the adoption of AI in sports remains relatively low. Nonetheless, some clubs have begun using AI technologies to analyse player performance data and enhance fan engagement on digital platforms.

The limited investment in AI and the scarcity of reliable data remain the main barriers preventing significant growth of AI innovation in Ugandan sports. Despite these challenges, a small number of clubs and private individuals are showing increasing interest in the potential of AI within the sector. At present, collaborative partnerships between sports clubs and private firms appear to offer the most promising pathway for expanding the use of AI in Ugandan sports.

At the moment, there is no viable application of the metaverse in the Ugandan sports sub‑sector. Overall, the country is still in the early stages of learning about the concept – its advantages, disadvantages, potential solutions, and possible opportunities – based on developments in more advanced jurisdictions. Before the idea can even be hypothetically considered for Ugandan sport, stakeholders prefer to observe and learn from the countries currently taking the lead in this area. For now, they are content to watch from the sidelines and gather insights from those pioneering metaverse initiatives.