By Samuel Opio
Sports Broadcasting Limited acquires the major commercial and media rights for the Uganda Premier League (UPL), FUFA Big League and the FUFA Uganda Cup.
The company, though largely unknown to most of the football stakeholders, signed a four year deal that rolls on July 1st 2018 to July 31st 2022 replacing Azam TV in a deal valued at about 10.8 billion.
The deal was announced on Thursday during a function held in Achwa Hall, Serena Hotel Kampala. This deal comes just after the Tanzania based Azam TV canceled the renewal of the broadcasting deal with the Uganda Premier League which expires in May.
The deal was announced on Thursday during a function held in Achwa Hall, Serena Hotel Kampala. This deal comes just after the Tanzania based Azam TV canceled the renewal of the broadcasting deal with the Uganda Premier League which expires in May.
“In the last decade, FUFA management has done a commendable job with professionalizing football in Uganda. We are now moving onto the next phase of commercialising football and television is a great place to start. I applaud FUFA for taking the bold step in offering these rights to a Ugandan Broadcaster and look forward to a fruitful partnership that will unpack a world of benefits for both the sports and fans,” the managing director, Denis Mbidde Sebugwawo said.
Fufa President, Moses Magogo said he was delighted to have a Ugandan company snap up these rights because it will cover three competitions.
The Chief guest Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, minister of state for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities also thanked the FUFA President and the people who have been instrumental in bringing sanity in sports.
“I congratulate sports broadcasting for this milestone,” he added.
Mbidde assured Ugandans that all the 240 games of the Uganda Premier League will be watched from the comfort of their homes, work places and hangouts. Currently the Uganda Premier League has 16 teams.According to the break down the UPL clubs will share Shs 2.1 billion (US$600,000), Big League Clubs Shs 252 million (US$70,000) and Uganda Cup Shs 288 million (US$80,000) every year for the next four years.
