Guilty as Charged: Referees Rajab Bakasambe and Lucky Kasalirwe charged and Suspended from UPL

By Daniels N. Tatya 

Referees Disciplinary panel has found two of their colleagues Bakasambe and Kasalirwe guilty of misuse of the whistle during match officiating.

The panel thus effected 3 weeks` suspension to each of the two referees Rajab Bakasambe and Lucky Kasalirwe from football officiating of Uganda Premier League effective 3^rdNovember 2021.

Without details, save for the fact that their refereeing careers were found wanting and subsequently committing costly mistakes, the duo will therefore not blow the whistles for 6 match days from match-day 7 to match-day 12 for clear refereeing mistakes.

Away from the duo, several of the men and women of the whistle have had to undergo suspension by the FIFA retired Ali Tomusange-headed Disciplinary Panel since its initiation by FUFA in May 2018.

The panel was initiated to streamline and cleaning the rot and dirt in affiliation of matches locally. There was a general loud public outcry from stake holders of the game in the country leading to the formulation of the referees’ disciplinary panel. A number of parties had registered their dissatisfaction about the standards of refereeing in the respective leagues on-going in the country.

Before 2018 when the federation thought it wise to formulate this panel, it had been observed and deliberated upon with the various feedback on reports showing a cumulative trend of referees’ technical misconducts, indiscipline and integrity checks. 

It was further observed that despite measures being done by FUFA Referees standing committee (FRSC) to sanction offenders, there were delays in execution of penalties hence the formation of the swiftly and active panel.