FUFA has abolished twin licensing in Uganda’s men’s professional leagues, ending a system that allowed young players to represent two clubs and replacing it with a combination of compulsory youth participation and an expanded loan framework.
The change is contained in the FUFA Competition Rules for 2026 and applies to the Uganda Premier League and FUFA Big League.
Rule 35(22) states: “The Twin Licence system shall cease to apply in all men Professional League Competitions and shall be replaced by the Youth Player Regulations provided for under these Rules.”
Twin licensing allowed an eligible young player to be registered with two clubs in different divisions for the same half-season.
Under the previous system, the club with the contractual obligation to the player was recognised as the Primary Owner, while the other club became the Secondary Owner.
The two clubs could not compete in the same league division and, when they met in a FUFA competition, the double-licensed player was ineligible to represent either side.
The arrangement provided a route for young footballers struggling for playing time at their primary clubs to gain competitive experience elsewhere without completely severing their availability to the parent club.
FUFA introduced the system as part of its revised player development regulations in 2023, with players aged 21 and below eligible for double registration while foreign players were excluded.
Bruno Bunyaga was among the players to benefit during the early implementation of the system. After struggling for playing time at URA, the forward joined Kiyinda Boys under a twin-licence arrangement and made an immediate impact.
Other players also moved between clubs through the arrangement as FUFA attempted to create more competitive playing opportunities for developing footballers. The system nevertheless placed obligations on the receiving clubs.
Under the previous Competition Rules, Secondary Owners were expected to field their double-licensed players in at least 70 percent of their matches. At least two double players were also required to be on the pitch whenever a Secondary Owner played a FUFA official match, provided they were available for selection.
The abolition of twin licensing does not mean FUFA has abandoned the principle of finding playing opportunities for players unable to break into their clubs’ first teams.
Loans already existed under the previous regulations, including an obligation on professional clubs to find loan arrangements for contracted players aged 21 and below who would not be registered.
The 2026 rules, however, place greater emphasis on that pathway following the removal of twin licensing.
One of the most significant provisions concerns what happens when a professional club has contracted more players than it can register.
The club is required to find a loan destination for the affected player, while Rule 35(27) requires the player to accept the proposed move provided the remuneration and contractual conditions are no less favourable than those contained in the existing employment agreement.
That represents a significant change from the previous rules, which expressly required both the club and player to consent to a loan through a written agreement registered with FUFA. The new provision could therefore raise questions about player choice.
While protecting a footballer’s remuneration and contractual conditions provides financial safeguards, a player’s decision over a loan destination can also involve sporting and personal considerations, including expected playing role, location, coaching environment and career development.
FUFA has attempted to address one of those concerns by attaching playing-time requirements to the new arrangement.
An affected player must participate in at least 50 percent of the official matches for which they are available and accumulate at least 400 minutes in each half of the season.
The principle of guaranteeing playing time is not entirely new. Under twin licensing, Secondary Owners were expected to field double players in at least 70 percent of their matches.
The new regulations effectively transfer that emphasis to loans, although they raise a practical question over how a parent club can guarantee minutes when team selection ultimately rests with the technical staff of the borrowing club.
FUFA Big League clubs have also been allocated three special registration slots for players contracted but not registered by another professional club, potentially creating additional destinations for players unable to secure places in UPL squads.
The removal of twin licences comes alongside stronger youth participation requirements in the top flight.
Instead of relying on young players gaining minutes at secondary clubs, UPL clubs are now required to provide opportunities within their own first teams under the new youth player regulations. The difference between the two approaches is significant.
Twin licensing provided flexibility by allowing an eligible player to maintain links with one club while playing competitive football for another.
A conventional loan temporarily transfers the player’s registration to the borrowing club for the agreed period. FUFA is therefore changing how responsibility for youth development is distributed.
Clubs at the top level will be expected to provide young players with direct first-team opportunities, while contracted players who cannot be accommodated within registration limits can be moved through a loan system containing measurable playing-time requirements.
Whether that produces more meaningful opportunities than twin licensing will depend on implementation. The new system could give young players clearer pathways and prevent contracted footballers from spending entire seasons without competitive football.
But requiring players to accept proposed loans and attempting to guarantee playing time at another club will also test how effectively FUFA can balance club obligations, player rights and the independence of coaches responsible for team selection.
Twin licensing offered flexibility. FUFA’s replacement places greater responsibility on clubs. The test will be whether that responsibility translates into more minutes for the young players the regulations are designed to develop.