In response, FUFA swiftly announced the suspension of the entire refereeing team involved in the match. The suspended officials include the central referee, Musisi Henry, along with assistant referees Mbabali Samuel and Kinyera Fred.
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The Uganda Premier League (UPL), the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has suspended six match officials after an incident in the highly anticipated match between Buhimba United Saints FC and Police FC on 17 February 2026.
The match, which was expected to be a thrilling encounter, was overshadowed by a refereeing blunder that has since sparked uproar in the football community.
The controversy began when Buhimba United Saints’ substitute player, Eric Nyonyintono, was allowed to enter the pitch wearing a jersey that did not match the team’s official kit. This violation of standard procedures led to a series of errors and accusations against the officiating crew, who failed to catch the discrepancy before the game continued.
In response, FUFA swiftly announced the suspension of the entire refereeing team involved in the match. The suspended officials include the central referee, Musisi Henry, along with assistant referees Mbabali Samuel and Kinyera Fred.
Semakula John, who served as the fourth official, also faces suspension, alongside match assessor Hillary Kimbugwe and general coordinator Kugonza Christopher. These officials will remain on suspension pending a formal disciplinary hearing to investigate the incident.
The suspension of these six officials has led to a wave of criticism from both fans and players, who have questioned how such an oversight was allowed to happen at a professional level.
The lack of adherence to the rules has sparked heated debates, with many arguing that such errors should not be tolerated in top-tier football.
As the investigation unfolds, the football community waits anxiously to see what consequences the officiating team will face, and whether such mistakes will be prevented in future UPL matches.
