Uganda’s leading female referee Shamirah Nabadda continues to strengthen her reputation on the international stage after being appointed to officiate the upcoming match involving New Caledonia, adding another assignment to an already impressive résumé.
Nabadda’s latest appointment comes on the back of her involvement in the ongoing international competition, where she served as the fourth official during Japan’s match against New Zealand yesterday.
Her continued presence at major international tournaments underlines the remarkable progress she has made since moving from playing football into refereeing.
CAF Women’s Referee of the Year
Nabadda reached one of the biggest milestones of her career in 2025 when she was named CAF Women’s Referee of the Year at the CAF Awards.
The Confederation of <a href="https://absafricatv.com/uae-expands-africa-trade-push-with-senegal-and-gabon-visits/” title=”UAE expands Africa trade push with Senegal and Gabon visits”>African Football officially listed the Ugandan among the winners of the 2025 awards, placing her ahead of a highly competitive field of female match officials on the continent.
The recognition capped a period in which Nabadda established herself as one of Africa’s leading referees, taking charge of matches across both women’s and men’s competitions.
A Referee on the World Stage
Nabadda’s international journey has included some of football’s biggest tournaments.
She was selected for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, becoming the only referee from the CECAFA region selected for the tournament.
FIFA’s appointment followed her participation at the Paris Olympics earlier that year.
Her Olympic experience came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she was selected among the support referees and served as a reserve fourth official. Her selection made her the first female Ugandan referee to reach the Olympic Games.
Nabadda has also become a familiar figure at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
She made her WAFCON debut in 2022 before returning for the 2024 edition, where she was entrusted with a semi-final assignment. She was also appointed as the centre referee for the Morocco-Zambia group-stage match at WAFCON 2024.
Her involvement has continued into the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, further demonstrating the confidence CAF and the wider football authorities have placed in her abilities.
Breaking Barriers at CHAN
Nabadda’s reputation has also extended beyond women’s football.
At the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, she became part of the officiating team for the men’s continental competition.
Her appointment was another significant step in her career, as she joined a select group of female referees breaking new ground in men’s international football. CAF highlighted her CHAN participation alongside her previous appearances at the Olympics, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and WAFCON.
During the tournament, she also made headlines after issuing her first red card at CHAN, further underlining her growing experience in high-pressure men’s matches.
Nabadda’s impressive portfolio also includes the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025, adding continental club football to her growing list of major assignments.
She has consequently built experience across international women’s football, men’s football and Olympic competition — a combination that has helped establish her as one of Uganda’s most prominent match officials.
Another International Assignment
With the New Caledonia assignment now added to her schedule, Nabadda continues a remarkable run of international appointments.
From the Olympic Games in Paris to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, WAFCON, CAF Women’s Champions League and CHAN, the Ugandan official has consistently earned opportunities on football’s biggest stages.
Her appointment for the New Caledonia game, coming immediately after serving as fourth official for Japan vs New Zealand, is yet another indication of the trust placed in her by international football authorities.
For Ugandan refereeing, Nabadda’s journey represents more than individual success. It is a growing example of how Ugandan match officials can rise from the domestic game to the very highest levels of international football.
