Ugandan Referees Work Without Pay as Football Season Ends

This is a big problem—not just for the referees, but for Ugandan football as a whole.

Referees are very important in football because they make sure the game is fair. They blow the whistle, give yellow and red cards, and stop fights on the field. They help keep the match safe and under control. Without referees, the game would be messy and unfair.

But in Uganda, it seems like referees are being forgotten.

According to SportsNation, referees in the Uganda Premier League have not received any payments for their officiating duties throughout the 2024/25 season. Several officials have reportedly had to cover their own transport, meals, and other personal expenses in order to fulfill matchday assignments.

One referee told SportsNation, “We are doing our best to help the game, but no one is helping us. It’s really hard.”

As if not getting paid wasn’t bad enough, the referees were also told they had to buy their own uniforms before the season started. In September 2023, FUFA (the football group that runs the sport in Uganda) said all referees had to buy a full kit.

The kit included a shirt, shorts, socks, whistle, and cards. It cost 100,000 Ugandan shillings (around $26 USD), and they had to buy it from a company called JANZI.

For many referees, this was a big problem. They already weren’t being paid, and now they were being told to spend more money—just to keep working. Some even said the kits were poor quality and didn’t last long.

“We are not even getting paid,” one referee said. “Why do we have to spend our own money to buy these things?”

Others asked why they were only allowed to buy from one supplier and said they should have a choice.

When referees don’t get paid, it can cause big problems for football. Some people are scared that referees might take money from fans, teams, or gamblers. If a referee has no money, they might agree and make bad or unfair calls in the game.

This is called match-fixing, and it’s a very bad and serious thing in sports.

If referees don’t feel supported or respected, they might not want to do the job anymore. They could stop doing it well or stop coming to matches at all.

This could make matches unfair, dangerous, or not enjoyable to watch. Fans could lose trust in the league, and football in Uganda could lose its good name.

Referees have started speaking out about how they are treated. Many say they love football and want to help the sport grow. But they also need to earn a living and take care of their families.

“Being a referee is not easy,” one official said. “We are out there in the sun, running for 90 minutes, dealing with angry fans and players. We take a lot of abuse. And then we go home with nothing.”

Some referees are thinking about quitting. Others say they might not come back next season if things don’t change.

“If FUFA doesn’t do something soon, they will lose a lot of good referees,” one person warned.

This issue has upset more than just the referees. Some football clubs and fans are also speaking up. They say referees deserve to be treated better and should be paid on time.

“Referees are part of the football family,” said a club coach. “You can’t just forget about them.”

Some fans also said that if referees are not treated fairly, the league could suffer. “No one will trust the results if they think the referees are unhappy or being pressured,” one fan wrote online.

A lot of people think FUFA should solve this problem quickly. They want referees to get the money they’ve already worked for and to be paid on time from now on.

They also want clearer communication. Some referees said they don’t even know why they haven’t been paid. FUFA hasn’t told them what’s going on or given any updates.

There are also calls for FUFA to help cover the cost of referee kits or at least offer choices on where to buy them.

Paying referees fairly and treating them with respect is important.

This is a clear warning to everyone in Ugandan football. It shows that the people who keep the game going need better care and support.

Referees are very important in football. Without them the game can’t happen. They should be respected, helped and paid fairly for what they do.

Let’s hope the people in charge listen and make things better before it’s too late.