Ugandan Premier League referees have gone unpaid all season and were forced to buy their own kits, raising serious concerns about fairness, match integrity, and the future of football officiating in the country.
As the football season in Uganda gets close to the end, a serious problem has come up. The referees who help control the games in the Uganda Premier League have not been paid all season. This news was first reported by SportsNation, who say that the referees have been working for many months without any money.
Referees are the people who make sure the rules are followed in football games. They stop fights, call fouls, and keep things fair. But now, they are doing all that work without getting paid.
One referee told SportsNation that it’s really hard to keep going. “We love football, but we also have families,” they said. “We need money for food, rent, and transport.”
Even though referees are very important in football, they often don’t get the attention or respect that players or coaches do. But without referees, there would be no games at all.
The kits had to be bought from a special company called JANZI. Some referees didn’t like this rule. They said it’s unfair to force them to buy something so expensive when they haven’t even been paid for working.
One referee said, “We are already struggling to survive. Now we have to spend more money just to keep working? It doesn’t make sense.”
Some also said the quality of the kits wasn’t very good, and they should not be forced to buy them from only one supplier.
Football is supposed to be a fair and fun game. If referees are not treated right, the whole game can suffer.
A few sports experts in Uganda said that if this problem continues, some referees may quit. And if there are no referees, matches cannot go on.
“Referees are part of the football family,” one club official said. “We can’t just forget about them.”
Many people are now calling for change. They want FUFA to pay the referees quickly and make sure something like this never happens again.
It’s clear that referees in Uganda need more support. They should not have to beg for their pay. They should be treated fairly, just like everyone else in football.
If this issue is not solved, it could hurt the whole league. People may stop trusting the game, and some referees may stop showing up.
This story was first shared by SportsNation, who spoke directly with the referees and got the inside story.
As the football season in Uganda gets close to the end, a serious problem has come up. The referees who help control the games in the Uganda Premier League have not been paid all season. This news was first reported by SportsNation, who say that the referees have been working for many months without any money.
Referees are the people who make sure the rules are followed in football games. They stop fights, call fouls, and keep things fair. But now, they are doing all that work without getting paid.
No Pay for a Whole Season
According to SportsNation, this problem has gone on since the season began. That means these referees have been traveling, working long hours, and dealing with pressure—all for free. Some of them have to spend their own money just to get to the matches.One referee told SportsNation that it’s really hard to keep going. “We love football, but we also have families,” they said. “We need money for food, rent, and transport.”
Even though referees are very important in football, they often don’t get the attention or respect that players or coaches do. But without referees, there would be no games at all.
Referees Must Buy Their Own Kits
The money problems don’t stop there. In September 2023, FUFA (the football group in charge of the sport in Uganda) told all referees that they must buy their own referee kits. These kits include shirts, shorts, socks, whistles, and cards. Each kit costs about 100,000 Ugandan Shillings, which is a lot of money for many referees.The kits had to be bought from a special company called JANZI. Some referees didn’t like this rule. They said it’s unfair to force them to buy something so expensive when they haven’t even been paid for working.
One referee said, “We are already struggling to survive. Now we have to spend more money just to keep working? It doesn’t make sense.”
Some also said the quality of the kits wasn’t very good, and they should not be forced to buy them from only one supplier.
Why This Is a Big Problem
When referees don’t get paid, it can cause bigger problems. Some people worry that if referees are not given money, they might be easier to bribe. That could lead to cheating in games, or results that are not fair.Football is supposed to be a fair and fun game. If referees are not treated right, the whole game can suffer.
A few sports experts in Uganda said that if this problem continues, some referees may quit. And if there are no referees, matches cannot go on.
People Want Answers
Fans, players, and some team managers are now asking FUFA to fix this. They want to know where the money meant for referees went. They also want FUFA to respect the work referees do.“Referees are part of the football family,” one club official said. “We can’t just forget about them.”
Many people are now calling for change. They want FUFA to pay the referees quickly and make sure something like this never happens again.
What Happens Next?
No one knows for sure how this will end. The football season is almost over, and referees are still waiting. Some are hoping FUFA will pay them soon. Others are already losing hope.It’s clear that referees in Uganda need more support. They should not have to beg for their pay. They should be treated fairly, just like everyone else in football.
If this issue is not solved, it could hurt the whole league. People may stop trusting the game, and some referees may stop showing up.
This story was first shared by SportsNation, who spoke directly with the referees and got the inside story.
