Referee receives rare applause in Bushenyi after impeccable officiating

In Ugandan football, referees and fans often find themselves at odds, with frequent accusations of biased decisions.

This tension has sometimes escalated into violent attacks on officials after matches. School sports have been particularly affected, where poor officiating has triggered student riots resulting in injuries and even fatalities.

However, a remarkable exception occurred during last week's Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Bushenyi district finals between arch-rivals St. Kagwa Bushenyi High School and Al Noor Islamic School. In an unprecedented show of appreciation, fans mobbed center referee Felix "Karaga" Nuwagaba after the game—not in anger, but in gratitude.

The highly anticipated match, considered potentially volatile due to the schools' intense rivalry, was expertly handled by Nuwagaba and his assistants Innocent Nyeitera and Esther Natamba. Despite the on-field intensity during the 0-0 draw (which St. Kagwa won 5-4 on penalties), the officiating team maintained perfect control.

At the final whistle, elated fans surrounded Nuwagaba, showering him with cash gifts—a rare gesture in Ugandan football.

"I'm humbled by this appreciation," said Nuwagaba. "Fans often misunderstand referees, especially in high-pressure games. This motivates me to love my job even more."

Alex Musinguzi, USSSA Bushenyi chairman, praised the officials: "Their professional handling of such a charged match left everyone satisfied—a shining example for school sports."