Referee Rajab Bakasambe, 38, is set to officiate his official final match on Saturday, January 18.
This shall come during a Buganda Regional League game between Seeta United and Sparks Kirondo at Seeta.
Bakasambe started refereeing in 2007 following a short goalkeeping career for Kiboga-based teams Black Bullets and Busakya SC.
From there, Bakasambe saw reasonable success as a referee growing fast to attain a FIFA badge in 2015 which was followed by receiving an international assignment when he handled a World Cup qualifying between South Sudan and Mauritania.
On the highest peak of his career, Bakasambe commented; “Receiving the appointment was much excitement, the game itself was just normal game to handle.”
Bakasambe started in Kiboga 4th Division League, rose to Zonal, followed by Buganda Regional League, FUFA Big League and then Uganda’s top flight within 3 years.
Joining refereeing was a decision that led him to reach his childhood dream when he flew to Kenya to be the fourth official of the game between Gor Mahia and Cnaps in CAF Champions League which was his first international game to officiate.
“My biggest achievement was to fulfil my biggest dream which was to fly outside the country and surprisingly it came for free which made everything that came later become a bonus.”
On the matchday, Bakasambe worked with Sali Manhood, Hussein Bugembe and Samuel Kayondo.
After Saturday Bakasambe who has been the acting Kiboga District Football Association chair since the death of Moses Kirunda in 2023, is seeking to commence another career in football as a Refereeing Assessor.
“I have fulfilled my dreams as a referee, it is the right time to live opportunities to those young referees in the ranks, I have finished my course to be a Referee’s Assessor and I am not retiring from football, I am just switching to another capacity.
“Besides I can also commence as an administrator.”
