Uganda’s FIFA referee Shamirah Nabadda has earned another major milestone.
The 29-year-old has been selected among the officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, a move that firmly places her among Africa’s top referees.
Nabadda is the only Ugandan on the list of 72 officials chosen for the continent’s biggest football stage.
She is also one of just 28 center referees, a role that reflects the trust CAF has in her ability and composure.
Her rise has been steady, from local leagues to regional tournaments and now Africa’s grandest football event.
Winning CAF Referee of the Year already signaled her growing influence, an AFCON appointment now gives her the biggest platform of her career.
She will join a select group of CECAFA referees, including Burundi’s Pacifique Ndahibawenimana, Kenya’s Peter Waweru Kamaku, Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda, Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan and Sudan’s Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail.
In total, the AFCON team includes 31 assistant referees and 14 Video Match Officials.
Her selection adds to what is already a moment of national pride. Uganda will feature in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania.
The Cranes begin their campaign against Tunisia on 23 December 2025 at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.
AFCON 2025 runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 across nine venues in six Moroccan cities, with hosts Morocco opening the tournament against Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
