Sports
Ugandan Referees Work Without Pay as Football Season Ends
Referees in the Uganda Premier League have gone the whole season without being paid. As the football season comes to an end, this news has caused a lot of concern. The story was first reported by SportsNation, who spoke with some of the referees.
The referees say they have not received any money for working at matches during the 2024/25 season. Even though they have been traveling, spending time away from their families, and making sure the games are fair, they have not seen a single payment.
This is a big problem—not just for the referees, but for Ugandan football as a whole.
Referees Are Important, But Forgotten
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.”
New Rule Made Things Worse
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.
Money Problems Could Affect the Game
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 Speak Out
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.
Clubs and Fans Are Also Worried
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.
What Should Be Fixed?
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.
A Wake-Up Call for Ugandan Football
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.
This report is based on original reporting by SportsNation, who spoke with referees and brought this important issue to light.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals when they face Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday at 9:00 pm at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
The defending champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia and will now be aiming to finish the group stage strongly. All the matches of the tournament air live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.
The final matchday of Group A saw hosts Morocco play out a goalless draw with Senegal, a result that was enough to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals in first position in their group. Algeria also secured their place in the knockout stages after a 2-0 victory over Kenya, bringing their group-stage campaign to a strong close.
Tuesday, Group B will conclude with Burkina Faso facing South Africa before Tanzania takes on Ivory Coast. South Africa and Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw in their previous match, while Burkina Faso bounced back from their opening defeat with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania. With the group still to be decided, the final results will determine which teams join the quarter-final line-up.
All eyes will then turn to Group C on Wednesday, where Egypt will face Nigeria, and Malawi will take on Zambia, with both matches kicking off at 9:00 pm. The Super Falcons will be hoping to build on their victory over Zambia and secure the result they need to advance to the knockout stages, while Egypt will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Malawi in their previous game.
Nigeria’s final group match comes after a difficult start to their title defence. The Super Falcons were stunned 3-2 by Malawi in their opening game but responded with a 1-0 victory over Zambia to revive their campaign. The ten-time champions will now need to complete the job against Egypt as they look to keep their hopes of retaining the continental crown alive.
The final group-stage fixtures on Thursday will see Ghana take on Mali, and Cape Verde face Cameroon on Thursday, with both matches also scheduled for 9:00 pm. Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing, while Mali secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The final results will determine which teams progress to the knockout stages from Group D.
Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday, August 4
Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 9:00 pm
Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5
Egypt vs Nigeria – 9:00 pm
Malawi vs Zambia – 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6
Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9:00 pm
Mali vs Ghana – 9:00 pm
SuperSport Brings All the Live Action
Catch every match of WAFCON Morocco 2026 live on SS Football (Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS Football Plus (DStv Ch. 202) on DStv and GOtv. Fans can also stream every match live on DStv Stream from ₦6,000, with no decoder or dish required.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
The start of a football season always tricks people a little. Everything looks fresh. New shirts, new signings, clean tables, confident managers, fans talking themselves into hope again. Then the first few matches arrive, and half the predictions start wobbling. That is what makes early-season betting interesting. It is not tidy yet. Manchester City may still be Manchester City, but that does not mean they are sharp from the first whistle. Arsenal might look strong on paper and still need time to settle. Chelsea can have another summer full of noise and still leave bettors guessing. Real Madrid might have the stars, but even stars need minutes together. The first weeks are not about certainty. They are about spotting who is ready before the market fully catches up.
New Signings Need Time
Transfer excitement can make people rush. A new striker arrives at Arsenal and suddenly every goals market feels tempting. Manchester United sign a defender and people start talking about clean sheets. Chelsea add another expensive player and the same old question comes back: does this actually fix the team, or just add another name? Sometimes a signing changes everything quickly. More often, there is an awkward stage first. A forward needs to learn where the passes come from. A midfielder needs to understand the press. A centre-back needs to build trust with the goalkeeper and full-backs. That is why early-season betting after the Betway app download should not treat a new signing like a finished answer. The name matters, but the fit matters more.
World Cup Legs Will Matter
This season also carries the weight of the World Cup. Some players will come back flying. Some will come back flat. Some may start the season with managed minutes because their clubs cannot afford to burn them out early. That can change player markets fast. A bettor looking through the betway app before a weekend card should not only check the famous names in the lineup. Look at who played deep into the World Cup, who missed pre-season, who came back late, and who is being protected by the manager. A star on the pitch is not always a star at full speed.
Early Tables Can Lie
The first league table always looks more dramatic than it is. One big club drops points, and everyone starts asking if there is a crisis. One promoted side wins at home, and suddenly people talk about momentum. A striker scores twice, and the golden boot conversations begin before anyone has really learned anything. That noise can be useful, but only if bettors do not get swallowed by it. Early results need context. Did the team actually play well, or just finish two chances? Did they control the game, or survive pressure? Was the opponent missing key players? Did the manager rotate because of fitness?
Patience Beats The Big Prediction
The new season will settle. The strong teams will usually rise, the weaker squads will get exposed, and the table will start to make more sense. But the opening weeks are different. They are full of strange fitness levels, overhyped signings, tired stars and teams that are still trying to remember what they are meant to be. That is why betting on the upcoming season should start slowly. Do not fall in love with last season’s form. Do not trust every transfer story. Do not assume every World Cup star is ready to carry club football straight away. The value is often hiding in the messy part, before everyone else agrees what the season really looks like.
