The Pepsi University Football League is gearing up for its eleventh season, scheduled to kick off next week with a clash between defending champions Uganda Martyrs Nkozi and Bugema University.
This year, twenty-three teams will vie for supremacy in the league as ISBAT University joins the competition. It's worth noting that the tournament started with just six teams.
No university has established absolute dominance throughout the league's history, with six different institutions claiming the championship title.
MUBS, Kampala University, and Uganda Martyrs Nkozi share the lead with two titles.
Kampala University clinched their second national title in a thrilling 2016 final, defeating Nkumba University 3-2 after extra time.
In 2017, Douglas Owori and Lauben Lubega were instrumental in Uganda Martyrs University's 2-0 victory over MUBS in the final.
Kyambogo University emerged victorious in the last final held at Namboole Stadium in 2018, prevailing over Kampala University 2-2 (3-2) in a penalty shootout.
In 2019, Uganda Christian University secured their first-ever title with a 2-1 triumph over St. Lawrence University at the Phillip Omondi Stadium.
The 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league resumed in 2022.
Uganda Martyrs University claimed their second consecutive title in November last year, defeating St. Lawrence University 1-0 at the Phillip Omondi Stadium.
With the constant turnover of university students, each year presents fresh opportunities for different universities to vie for the championship. As a result, there are no clear favourites.
Let's take a look at the previous champions by year
2012: Makerere University
2013: Kampala University
2014: MUBS
2015: MUBS
2016: Kampala University
2017: Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi
2018: Kyambogo University
2019: Uganda Christian University
2020: Season Canceled
2022: Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi