Africa-Press – Uganda. After years of justified ridicule, Fufa have finally listened, dug in for freshness, and produced an inspired new trophy for the winners of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
And in recognition of their consistent rise above an otherwise average field, Vipers will be the first recipients of the Margherita inspired Fufa UPL Trophy.
The new silverware will be presented to Vipers leaders, Milton Karisa and Allan Okello, on Saturday after at a game they are odds-on to win – possibly at a canter – when they face relegated and worn-out Soltilo Bright Stars at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Inspiration
The design of, as the FA calls it – the new Fufa Uganda Premier League trophy – is “rooted in a profound and symbolic concept that mirrors the country’s unmatched beautiful features.”
It draws inspiration from Uganda’s towering hills and majestic mountain ranges, with top flight football teams heavily represented with competition on their mind to rise above one another with the main aim to reach the highest point in Ugandan football.
Vipers have risen above the rest, winning their seventh league crown with a match to spare.
Victory over Bright Stars in the season’s final match will be Vipers’ 22nd of 30, moving them to an impressive 71 points.
Closely behind them is NEC, who also have a chance to end their impressive campaign on 67 points in second should they beat URA.
Back to the new UPL trophy, the idea was crafted some 5110m above sea level, “symbolising the best team in the league, whose excellence mirrors the country’s highest peak – Margherita,” read a circular from the FA.
Closer look
The physical form of the trophy creatively captures the essence of this narrative, inspired by the shape of a football stretched along a vertical axis to reflect the unmatched height of Uganda’s tallest mountain range.
Horizontally, the ball is pulled across a top chord to form a crescent reminiscent of a young moon symbolising new beginnings and the kind of nature of competition.
The body features hexagonal and half-pentagonal panels, maintaining a subtle homage to the classic football design.
This artistic body is mounted atop a hemispherical base textured with dimpled ball patterns.
Supporting the trophy are two carefully crafted tiers: the upper tier bears the engravings ‘Fufa’ and ‘Uganda Premier League’, signifying its official status, while the lower tier is a glossy black base providing both visual contrast and structural stability.
The entire ensemble rests on a flat stand, anchoring the piece with elegance and firmness. The trophy’s trunk is adorned with a smooth texture.
Vertical lines subtly dimple along the trunk, seamlessly connecting the top and bottom patches. These lines emulate the pattern of a stretched football, uniting symbolic narrative and aesthetic detail.
Crafted from fine silver, the trophy is a brilliant representation of prestige and achievement, standing at a precise height of 511 millimetres with a deliberate reflection of the 5.11-kilometre journey up top Margherita and the apex of Ugandan football.
Every design element, from form to finish, speaks to the ambition, beauty, and resilience of the game within the nation.
This trophy is not merely an award, it is a story cast in silver, celebrating those who strive to stand tallest in the beautiful game. The new silverware sets tone for reignited competition next season as most teams will want to lay their hands on it.
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