Soroti University suspended from Pepsi University Football League

Soroti University, newcomers to the 2025–2026 Pepsi University Football League, have been suspended for one year after breaching league rules and regulations.

The Teso-region institution, which recently joined the competition, was sanctioned by the University Football League Disciplinary Committee after being found guilty of fielding impersonators during matches.

Investigations revealed that Soroti University used two players, Joseph Bambaga and David Success Osako, who were not listed on the official Pepsi University Football League players’ roster. The two featured in a match against YMCA, which Soroti won.

University sports administrator Martine Epecu told Vision Sport that the players are genuine students of Soroti University, but uncertainty arose because the university’s sports tutor, responsible for registrations was involved in a road accident.

“We are going to sit as the university’s football overseers and forge a way forward to minimize such occurrences in the future,” Epecu said.

According to Epecu, Soroti University will return to the league in the 2026–2027 season, which begins in May.

Head coach Joseph Emitu noted that the team had shown promise before the suspension, drawing 0–0 with Busitema University, defeating YMCA 1–0, and losing 6–1 to Nkumba University. At the time of suspension, Soroti were second in Group C with four points from three matches.

Emit u emphasized that participation in the Pepsi University League was vital for player development and interaction with peers from other institutions.

The 2025–2026 season has seen the number of participating teams grow from 23 to 29 universities. Uganda Martyrs’ University (UMU) Nkozi are the reigning champions, having won the 2024–2025 edition.