Ugandan FIFA referee Lucky Razake Kasalirwe is set to take charge of another major continental assignment when Sierra Leone face Zimbabwe in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
According to the official CAF designation, Kasalirwe has been appointed centre referee for the Group E encounter at Stade El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco, placing the Ugandan official at the centre of one of the opening-round fixtures of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
Referee Kasalirwe Lucky Razak- courtesy Photo
CAF has scheduled the opening matchdays from September 24 to October 6, with Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe meeting on Matchday One.Another major assignment for KasalirweThe appointment adds another important chapter to Kasalirwe’s growing international refereeing career.
The Ugandan official has already handled high-pressure matches at both domestic and continental level. In January 2026, Kasalirwe was appointed to referee the CAF Champions League encounter between Power Dynamos of Zambia and Rivers United of Nigeria.
The report noted his previous international experience, including a FIFA World Cup qualifier between Mauritania and Togo and a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round match.
At Hamz Stadium Nakivubo Referee was officiating UPL Match between Express FC & UPDF FC- courtesy
His continental exposure continued in May when CAF appointed him to referee the Senegal vs Mali quarter-final at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. That assignment placed him in charge of a high-pressure knockout match involving two West African sides.
Only weeks ago, Kasalirwe was also entrusted with the whistle for the 2026 FUFA Super Cup between Kitara FC and Vipers SC as an experienced FIFA-certified referee with domestic and continental experience.
The Ugandan team in El Jadida.
Kasalirwe will not be working alone. The CAF designation features a strong Ugandan contingent:
Lucky Razake Kasalirwe — Referee, Uganda
Ronald Katenya — Assistant Referee 1, Uganda
Assistant Referee- Ronald Katenya during the CECAFA Kagame Cup – credit to Kamira Ash
Emmanuel Okudra — Assistant Referee 2, Uganda
Dick Okello — Fourth Official, Uganda
The appointment gives Uganda a significant presence in the officiating team for the international fixture.
Ronald Katenya — Assistant Referee 1
Katenya brings considerable international experience to the assignment. He is a FIFA-listed Ugandan assistant referee and has featured in major continental competitions, including the African Nations Championship. His role will include assisting with offside decisions, identifying when the ball leaves the field and determining corner kicks, goal kicks and throw-ins, while also supporting the referee with incidents in his viewing area.
Emmanuel Okudra — Assistant Referee 2
Okudra is another established member of Uganda’s FIFA refereeing panel. He was previously part of the officiating team with Kasalirwe during the FUFA Super Cup and has also received CAF assignments. His experience alongside Kasalirwe provides familiarity within the officiating unit as they prepare for another demanding international fixture.
Dick Okello — Fourth Official
The fourth official, Dick Okello, is himself a FIFA referee and an experienced continental official. He has previously worked at CAF Champions League level and was part of the officiating team for the 2026 FUFA Super Cup. The fourth official’s responsibilities include overseeing substitutions, managing the technical areas, displaying added time and serving as an important link between the technical benches and the referee team.
Dick Okello – Photo courtesy
A growing international profile for Ugandan refereeing.
Kasalirwe’s latest appointment comes at a time when Ugandan refereeing continues to receive opportunities on the continental stage.
From the CAF Champions League and AFCON U-17 competition to the upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers, Ugandan officials are increasingly appearing in major CAF appointments. Kasalirwe’s sequence of assignments is particularly notable, having moved between domestic finals, CAF club competitions, youth internationals and senior international football.
Modern refereeing is also entering an increasingly technology-driven era. Discussions around VAR have expanded the responsibilities and review mechanisms available to match officials, particularly around decisive incidents.
For Kasalirwe, Thursday’s assignment presents another opportunity to operate on one of Africa’s biggest football stages as Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe begin their journey towards AFCON PAMOJA 2027.
The tournament itself will be hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with the qualifying campaign beginning this week.
CAF MATCH OFFICIALS — SIERRA LEONE 🇸🇱 vs ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼
Referee: Lucky Razake Kasalirwe — Uganda
Assistant Referee 1: Ronald Katenya — Uganda
Assistant Referee 2: Emmanuel Okudra — Uganda
Fourth Official: Dick Okello — Uganda
Commissioner: Alhaji Babagana Kalli Kalli — Nigeria
Referee Assessor: Drâmane Dante — Mali
Broadcast Venue Manager: Adam Sentissi — Morocco
Venue: Stade El Abdi, El Jadida, Morocco
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Competition: TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 Qualifiers — Matchday 1Fixture: Sierra Leone vs Zimbabwe
Uganda’s whistle heads to El Jadida. Kasalirwe leads the way, supported by an all-Ugandan core of Katenya, Okudra and Okello.
