FUFA referees threaten to lay down tools over unpaid wages

Forty local referees from the North East region are demanding for sh12m in wages that has accumulated over three years.

The money was meant to be paid for officiating games from 2014 to 2016 FUFA football seasons.

The referees under their umbrella North East Region Referees say they will not officiate any game in the forthcoming season.

"We shall not allow the FUFA League to kick-off unless our sh45,000 per official is paid for 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons" said Juma Adome the chairperson FUFA North East region Referees Association.

"Failure to pay referees will always affect the sector of referees in the country. They can't officiate fairly hence the continental football body can't select Ugandan referees as such" Adome said.

In a related development FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo disclosed that money paid for the referees per match were is to be raised by more than 100%.

The revelation came at the FUFA assembly held at Soroti Hotel where match officials were promised a pay rise of shs150,000 up from sh70,000 per match.

Magogo, while presenting his activity report to a fully packed hall, told his audience that the federation also hopes to have cleared all referees' arrears by the start of 2016.

The issue was a big concern for most of the delegates and, when it came to giving their reactions, speaker after speaker highlighted the plight of national referees who despite playing a big role in the development of football, have nothing to show for it.