Gladys ZAWEDDE
Former FIFA referee Rajab Bakasambe will officially retire on Sunday 12 January 2025 at Kiboga Ssaza grounds after handling a Buganda Regional League tie between Kiboga United and Young Simba FC in the Buganda Regional League.
He was the center referee in a one all draw between Lugazi FC and Soltilo Bright Stars at Lugazi FC Stadium on Monday 6th January 2025 and that was his final game in the Uganda Premier League.
Bakasambe who has been in refereeing since 2007 handled his first top tier game in 2010 between the defunct duo of Fire Masters and Victors FC.
Speaking to Swift Sports, Bakasambe appreciated all those that have been part of his journey and believes he leaves a very happy man after achieving his targets,
“I appreciate Buganda Region, FUFA, Buganda Referees Association, Kiboga Referees Association, FUFA Referees Standing Committee and all those that have been part of this great journey I leave a happy man targets achieved.”
As a young man, Bakasambe always dreamt of taking a fully facilitated flight and this he achieved,
“I dreamt to fly as a young man and I achieved this on 12th-Feb-2015 I was appointed as the fourth official between Gor Mahia of Kenya and Snaps of Madagascar. Mashood Ssali was the center referee while Hussein Bugembe and Samuel Kayondo were the first and second assistants respectively.”
“Many flights followed and I do not regret this journey. I leave very contented”
In 2015 Bakasambe handled a World Cup Qualifier between South Sudan and Mauritania in Juba.
On his toughest game all through his career, he sights out a 2013 encounter between Victors and Proline FC that was played at Kakindu,
“What made it a very tough tie in my journey is I got the communication a bit late but by Allah’s grace I managed.”
Bakasambe is the chairman Buganda National Referees, Delegate Kiboga Referees Association as well as the Buganda Referees Delegate UFRA and also works with Kiboga Local Government as machine operator.
He is currently the acting chairman Kiboga DFA following the death of Moses Kirunda. He joins other experienced referees Mashood Ssali and Ali Sabilla who also bowed out.
