Uganda registered a remarkable night of continental acclaim after both President Museveni and Fifa referee Shamirah Nabadda were honoured at the 2025 Caf Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco.
President Museveni received the Caf President’s Outstanding Achievement Award, recognising his contribution to the growth and development of football across Africa.
The honour was presented on Wednesday night during a ceremony presided over by Caf President Patrice Motsepe.
Museveni was recognised alongside Kenya’s President William Ruto and Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who were all applauded for strengthening football structures, supporting major competitions, and investing in infrastructure that has elevated East African football.
Caf noted that Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania jointly hosted one of the most successful editions of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a collaboration that delivered upgraded stadium facilities, improved logistics and strengthened operational standards.
The body praised the co-hosting model as “a milestone for East African football” and a potential blueprint for future regional tournaments.
The award presentation formed part of a ceremony that also celebrated leading performers across the continent, including Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who were named Women’s Team of the Year.
On the same night, Uganda secured yet another milestone when Fifa referee Shamirah Nabadda was named Caf Women’s Referee of the Year, cementing her status as one of Africa’s most accomplished officials.
Nabadda’s recognition caps a distinguished year in which she handled major continental and global assignments, including the CHAN tournament jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Her growing reputation has positioned her among the top candidates likely to officiate at the 2026 Fifa Men’s World Cup in Mexico, the USA and Canada.
At 29, Nabadda has built one of the strongest refereeing résumés in Ugandan history. She made headlines at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the first female Ugandan referee to officiate at the Games.
Her ascent began at Masaka Secondary School before she earned her Fufa National Referee badge in 2016 and her Fifa badge in 2018.
In domestic football, she became the Uganda Premier League’s youngest female centre referee at 23 when she took charge of a fixture between KCCA and Masavu. She has since presided over high-profile matches, including the 2024 Stanbic Uganda Cup final.
Internationally, Nabadda has officiated at the CAF Women’s Champions League, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), Olympic qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers and multiple youth tournaments.
In July 2024, she was appointed centre referee for the Wafcon semi-final between South Africa and Nigeria—one of the year’s most consequential fixtures.
Her earlier assignments include the 2022 Wafcon, the All Africa Games (2023), the World University Games in Napoli (2019), the Cecafa Women’s Senior Championship and several Fufa competitions.
She further made history in August 2024 as the first Ugandan referee to officiate at the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Sports officials have consistently praised Nabadda’s composure, discipline and professionalism—qualities that have made her a trusted figure in international refereeing.
Her triumph in Rabat not only elevates her individual profile but also underscores Uganda’s growing footprint in global football officiating, inspiring a new generation of referees, particularly young women seeking a pathway to the sport’s highest stages.