Former referee Fred Mufta received his first award for the great officiating through a 15-year career which spaned between 1997 and 2013.
Mufta, 51, received the recognition on 4th March 2025 at Lazio Restaurant as sportsmen and women who excelled in February were awarded.
The event started with awarding the three best players in three sports disciplines which included Cricket, Football and Basketball.
Juma Miyagi won the accolade for cricket, Abdul Kalanzi won the football category and Jane Asinde, in absence, was announced as best basketballer.
In Cricket, pace bowler Juma Miyagi beat spinner Henry Ssenyondo who won the accolade in December 2024 the last time for cricketers to appear at these awards. The podium also had Raghav Dhawan but Mayagi stood superior for his standout bowling on Uganda Cricket Cranes duties at ICC Men’s World Cup Challenge League B in Hong Kong where the youngster from Naguru picked up a total of 12 wickets from 123 balls.
In Basketball, FIBA Afro-Basket Qualifiers MVP Jane Asinde was voted ahead of Gazelles teammate Shillah Lamunu and Silverback John Deng Gue. Asinde averaged 18.8 points per game, and remarkably posted 19 points in the final as Uganda beat host Egypt 74-63 after putting on 28 points against South Sudan earlier in the Qualifiers.
She also posted extra efforts to average 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game seeing Uganda winning the qualifiers to reach the Women’s AfroBasket which will be held in Ivory Coast.
In Football, Lugazi FC’s Abdul Kalanzi beat Allan Okello and Patrick Kaddu to the accolade as the former Buikwe Redstars man’s performances for Lugazi FC in February tallied 4 goals in 4 games.
The on-form star guided his Mabira side to qualify for the last 16 of the Uganda Cup after beating Calvary 2-0, and Kalanzi further appeared twice on the scoresheet in the Uganda Premier League to guide his side to 11th on the log with 20 points.
The event climaxed with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Real Stars Sports Agency Chief Executive Officer and the Director Isaac Mukasa to Fred Mufta and later the two were joined by Fortebet representative Resty Mbatidde Namugema, Jude Colour Solutions’ Henry Zimbe and other winners for photo moments.
After receiving his first award in life, Mufta made a mentorship call towards the young generation in refereeing. “I urge the young generation that refereeing is a lifetime, I retired in 2013 but I still train and officiate matches when am seated”
The old man concluded by applauding his mentors throughout his career and surprisingly the mentions came from former referees like Charles Masembe, players like Edgar Watson, and Hussein Mbalangu as well as coaches Mike Mutebi and Moses Basena.
