The Uganda Premier League (UPL) is back! The games kick off this Friday with a number of fixtures, as 16 teams commence what will be a months-long battle of supremacy.
For different reasons, new coaches have been widely hired; only two of the 16 coaches are continuing at the clubs they were last season, the other 14 are all new recruits on their various teams.
Only three clubs (which all finished top three) last season have hired foreign coaches this season.
Here is a complete list of each one of the 16 coaches who will be managing the 16 UPL clubs.
- Leonard Martins Neiva – Vipers SC
The 41 year old Brazilian joined the Venoms in July this year, replacing Alex Isabirye who resigned after winning the Kitende side their first ever domestic double (League and League Cup). - Sergio Daniel Moniz Traguil – KCCA FC
The 42-year-old Portuguese joined the Kasasiro Boys in June this year. Jackson Mayanja had served temporarily in the same role that Morley Byekwaso had left vacant mid season. - Dusan Stojanovic – SC Villa
The Uganda Premier League record champions unveiled the Serbian tactician as their head coach in June this year. He filled in the void left by Jackson Magera, whose contract with the club expired but the Jogoos chose not to retain him. - Livingstone Mbabazi – Arua Hill
Mbabazi has been in charge of the Arua-based side for the past two seasons, in which he has guided them to fifth and fourth positions respectively. - Fred Muhumuza – URA
Muhumuza joined the Tax Collectors in January this year as assistant to the now deceased coach Sam Timbe. Following Timbe’s death in August, Muhumuza stepped into the role, which he has so far done fairly well – having guided URA to a second place finish in the FUFA Super 8 preseason tournament. His side beat KCCA 2-1 in the semi final before going on to lose the title to BUL on penalties in the final, following a barren draw at Lugogo. - Abbey Kikomeko – BUL
Kikomeko was unveiled as the Eastern Giants’ head coach in June, on a three year contract. He had been at Mbale Heroes the previous season, where he led the Surgeons back to the FUFA Big League. Kikomeko overcame and URA, SC Villa and Vipers to win the FUFA Super 8 trophy. - James Odoch – Express FC
The Red Eagles handed their former midfielder a permanent contract in July 2022, having impressed the board in the same role in which he stood in on interim basis following the departure of Wasswa Bbosa. - John Ayala Luyinda – Wakiso Giants
The Purple Sharks appointed Luyinda as their head coach in June 2022, replacing Alex Gitta. Last season,the coach guided them to am eighth place finish of 16 teams, having gathered 36 points from 28 games. - Pius Ngabo – UPDF
The army side resorted to Pius Ngabo as a replacement for their former head coach Brian Ssenyondo who joined newly promoted Kitara FC. Ngabo had worked at UPDF before, as Kefa Kisala’s assistant, the same position in which he worked with Luyinda at Wakiso Giants and Abdallah Mubiru at Police FC. - Joseph Mutyaba – Bright Stars
Mutyaba replaced Asaph Mwebaze as head coach at Bright Stars in July this year. The CAF A licensed coach was shortly at Onduparaka last season. He has also previously worked with Masavu FC, BUL FC and Lweza FC. - Muhammed Ssenfuma – Maroons
Ssenfuma had initially joined the Luzira based side in May 2021, and his contract would end in June this year, but the club had faith in him, and extended his contract for three more years, keeping him as the Maroons head coach until 2026. - Vincent Lukyamuzi – Busoga
The veteran coach, after guiding the team to survival last season will be available to maintain the team in top flight. - Gaddafi – David Mutono – Gaddafi
The former Kyetume tactician was appointed as the new Soldier Boys’ head coach on a two-year employment contract in July this year, replacing Wasswa Bbosa who joined newly promoted Mbarara City. Mutono helped Kyetume earn UPL promotion in the 2021/22 season. - Kitara – Brian Ssenyondo
Following their promotion to the UPL, Brian Ssenyondo was handed a two year employment contract and tasked to manage The Royals in June. He replaced Sam Ssimbwa. - Wasswa Bbosa – Mbarara City
As the Ankole Lions return to the top flight after a season in the second division, they will be under the tutelage of experienced coach Wasswa Bbosa for a season. He replaced Sadiq Ssempijji, who moved to FUFA Big League side Jinja North United after guiding Mbarara City back to the UPL. - Hussein Mbalangu – NEC
The former Arua Hill manager suffered relegation with Blacks Power in the Lira-based side’s first season in the top division. He now bounces back with another newly promoted side NEC FC. Unlike last season, Mbalangu believes that new team is better placed to earn a better position than the case was last season.
