Ugandan Nabadda appointed to FIFA U20 Women's World Cup

Shamirah Nabadda's appointment to officiate at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Poland is another big moment for Uganda football.

FIFA has selected Nabadda among the match officials for the tournament set for September 5–27, placing her among the world's top referees on the global stage. She becomes the first Ugandan female referee to officiate at this competition.

The Uganda Football Referees Association (UFRA) described her achievement as a reflection of professionalism and discipline.

"Uganda Football Referees Association (UFRA) congratulates FIFA Referee Shamirah Nabadda upon her appointment to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. She becomes the first Ugandan female referee to officiate at this tournament," the statement reads.

"Her selection reflects professionalism, discipline, integrity, and consistent performance, and it is a proud moment for Uganda's refereeing fraternity. She remains an inspiration to young referees and a strong ambassador for Uganda and Africa."

This is not luck. It is the result of years of steady progress. Nabadda became a national referee in 2016, earned her FIFA badge in 2018, and has since worked at major tournaments including the Paris Olympic Games, AFCON 2025, WAFCON, CHAN, and the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. In 2025, she was named CAF Female Referee of the Year, confirming her consistency at the highest level.

Her rise is important for one major reason: she is now a role model for women in football officiating in Uganda. Many young female referees now see that it is possible to reach the top level of world football. Her journey shows that women can rise from local pitches in Uganda to the biggest tournaments in the world.

However, the challenge is that Uganda still has very few female referees reaching this level. The growth is slow. Nabadda stands almost alone at the top. This is why her success should not only be celebrated but also used to build a system that produces more like her.

Her success should push football leaders to invest more in referee development, especially for women. That means better training, more exposure, and stronger support at the local level so that young referees can follow a clear path to international football.

Nabadda's 2025 CAF award also confirms something important: her success is about consistency, not luck. She has performed well over many years, not just in one season. This is the standard Uganda should aim to build in its refereeing system.

She now carries the responsibility of being Uganda's flag bearer in major global tournaments. Every time she steps on the pitch, she represents not just herself but her country and the entire CECAFA region.

CECAFA Head of Refereeing Ali Ahmed praised her appointment, along with Burundi's Fides Bangurambona and Rwanda's Salima Mukansanga, saying their selection reflects the quality of refereeing in the region.

"The selected referees are outstanding officials who will proudly fly the CECAFA flag. Their appointment is a great achievement for both the region and their individual careers. We have every confidence that they will perform excellently in every match. I wish them all the best at the World Cup," he said.

The other match officials selected from Africa to officiate at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup include Twanyanyukwa Antsino (Namibia), Fanta Kone (Mali), Diana Chikotesha (Zambia), and Cameroon's Carien Atezambong.

Four teams from the African continent—Benin, Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria—qualified to feature in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2026.