Two Clubs, One Dream Realized
After months of perseverance, nervy matches and a dogged quest for promotion, URA Ladies FC and Jinja United WFC have officially secured their spots in the 2026/27 Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League. Their promotions complete incredible stories in which both clubs fought until the final moments to achieve their dreams of Super League football – dreams that will become reality come next season as Uganda’s finest contest at the highest level for the first time.
Not only do URA Ladies and Jinja United celebrate monumental successes for their respective clubs, but their promotions also represent further proof of just how far women’s football in Uganda has come. Competition is fierce at all levels of the game as each season passes, and the quality of play throughout the women’s domestic league system continues to improve with new clubs joining the chase for prestige and glory.
URA Ladies Finish Job in Style
If there was one team fancied for promotion before a ball was kicked, it was URA Ladies. The Tax Collectors had won promotion as recently as 2021, according to the reputable sports news outlet, Bettingtop10 ZA. Still, they were without a top-flight license last season and will now be hoping to reclaim their position among Uganda’s best come the new campaign.
With the aim of returning to the Super League clearly stated by Head Coach Anne Maria Lokosa at the start of the season, URA Ladies were rampant in the Elizabeth Group. A victory over perennial champions UPDF Women was enough to guarantee top spot and promotion for Coach Lokosa’s troops, with no team able to catch them before the campaign’s conclusion. Goalgetter Cynthia Kirenga found the back of the net late on to seal promotion for URA Ladies and celebrate another job well done.
Despite racing away at the summit of the table for most of the season, URA Ladies were never truly able to relax. A strong defensive record and cool heads under pressure saw them pull away from the pack and guarantee promotion with a game to spare. Both aspects of their game will prove vital come next season.
Jinja United Make Club History
The players and officials at Jinja United WFC will tell you that they hoped for one result on matchday 9 – anything other than victory would have ended their promotion aspirations and seen URA Ladies return to the Super League on their own.
However, Jinja United would not let another side’s story overpower their own, and the Eastern Uganda side finished the season strongly to take the promotion they rightfully deserved. The journey to the Super League had been a long one, but it had always looked likely to reward Jinja United’s hard work should they remain consistent – and consistent they were.
Jinja United joined URA Ladies at the top of the table after round 9 and remained there until the end. Their campaign was highlighted by impressive victories and a grit that saw them grind out results when needed. Jinja United may have only recently tasted women’s senior football but are no strangers to success at any level – promotion to the Super League is proof that they mean business.
A Bigger Stage Awaits
Completing a season in the FUFA Women Elite League is one thing. Surviving in the FUFA Women Super League is quite another. URA Ladies and Jinja United will be regarded as favorites by nobody when the Super League season commences. Every team they come up against has experience of top-flight women’s football that URA and Jinja have yet to acquire. Standards will be higher, matches tougher, and there’ll be no margin for error like in the Elite League.
Another Win for Women’s Football
For URA Ladies, promotion presents an opportunity to return to a level they’ve enjoyed plenty of success in before. Jinja United will view next season as an opportunity to measure themselves against the best women’s teams Uganda has to offer. With that in mind, both sides will look to strengthen and adapt to ensure they can go toe-to-toe with the country’s elite.
As more clubs push for promotion and continue to rise through the ranks of Ugandan women’s football, the domestic league system only becomes healthier. URA Ladies and Jinja United are the latest success stories to emerge from the FUFA Women’s Elite League. An ever-growing competitive league that provides ambitious clubs with a platform to challenge for honors and improve the standard of the country’s female game. Promotion stories such as these only serve to increase the profile of women’s football Ugandan-wide.
Eyes on the 2026-27 Campaign
While medals might currently be shared for this momentous promotion, both clubs will soon turn their attention to the season ahead. Avoiding relegation and establishing themselves in the Super League will take top priority with all hands on deck for Jinja United and URA Ladies. The celebration is over. Planning for next season begins now.
