The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has selected 19 referees who will officiate the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

Twelve teams will tussle it out in the regional tournament that takes place July 24^th to August 7^th in Kigali, Rwanda.

“We have selected match officials from different countries. They started preparing as a group in Kigali on Tuesday and hope to deliver a good tournament,” says Ali Ahmed, the CECAFA head of refereeing.

He explained that the region is training more and more referees taking into account that the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Nine referees and 10 assistant referees have been selected to officiate the Club regional competition that returns to Rwanda since 2019.

The tournament kicks off on Friday with Vipers SC (Uganda) facing Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti), while APR FC (Rwanda) take on Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) in Group A matches.

Referees: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda), Dickens Mimisa (Kenya), Saddam Houssein Mansour (Djibouti), Nasir Salum Siyah (Zanzibar), Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania), Dick Okello (Uganda), Abdifatah Said Mire (Somalia), Malong Ring (South Sudan), Sabri Muhammad Fadi (Sudan)

Assistant Referees: Dieudonne Mutuyimana (Rwanda), Didier Ishimwe (Rwanda), Ally Ramadhani Rajabu, Hamdani Said Ally (Tanzania), Samuel Karia (Kenya), Ronald Katenya (Uganda), Omer Hamid (Sudan), Eleyeh Robleh (Djibouti), Gasim Muder Dhiya (South Sudan), Mahad Ali Mohamud (Somalia)

The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has said the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 will be the best ever hosted in the region.

Speaking during the official Press Conference on Wednesday afternoon, held at the Amahoro Stadium ahead of the start of the tournament, Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam said he is happy with what the hosts Rwanda have put in place.

“I thank the government of Rwanda under President Paul Kagame, and the leadership of FERWAFA for making sure that this tournament returns to Rwanda since 2019. We are confident that this is going to be the best CECAFA Kagame Cup,” added Andemariam.

He also revealed that Rwanda has already showed interest in hosting the next three editions of the tournament, citing the country’s strong infrastructure and proven hosting capacity. “Rwanda is going to host three more CAF Zonal tournaments this year and we thank them for coming forward to hosts them,” he added.

Andemariam also made it clear that CECAFA is working hard to grow the tournament so that it can attract more sponsors and teams from other Zones.

Richard Mugisha, the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Second Vice President in-charge of Development and Technical also assured all stakeholders and teams that the standard of the tournament will be very high in all aspects.

“We are glad that CECAFA has given us the opportunity to host the CECAFA Kagame Cup again and we call upon fans to come in big numbers to cheer the teams and watch good Football,” added Mugisha.

The CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 will kick-off on Friday with Uganda’s Vipers SC facing Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti), while APR FC (Rwanda) battle Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) in Group A matches.

The regional tournament attracting 12 teams from nine countries will climax on August 7^th with the final. The champions will pocket US$30,000, the runners-up US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has contributed the prize money towards the tournament since 2002.

The curtains will finally roll out when the regional 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup kicks off at Rwanda’s Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday.

Uganda Premier League reigning champions Vipers SC who have been very busy in the transfer market will take to the field first in a Group A match against Dhibouti’s Gade Republicaine FC.

The regional tournament which provides teams in the Zone a platform to prepare ahead of the CAF competitions returns to Kigali since it was last held in 2019 when KCCA FC (Uganda) defeated Al Merriekh SC (Sudan) in the final.

Shema Ngoga Fabrice, President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) says they are excited to see the CECAFA Kagame Cup return to Kigali. “We ae very excited that the tournament returns to Rwanda since 2019. We are determined to have a very succesfull tournament,” added Shema.

The second match in the competition will see two teams that have each lifted the trophy thrice APR FC (Rwanda) and Kenyan giants Gor Mahia FC clash as hich promises to be a thriller.

On Saturday the defending champions Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania) will face South Sudan’s Jamus SC in a Group B match, while another Tanzanian side Simba SC take on Mogadishu City Club FC.

With excitement buzzing in Kigali ahead of kick off, other stakeholders around Africa will also have the opportunity to watch he matches live on Rwanda Broadcasting Agency and Azam TV.

The tournament which will feature 12 teams will climax on August 7^th with the champion bagging US$30,000, the runner up US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame has supported the regional club tournament catering for the cash prize since 2002.

Group A: APR FC, Vipers SC, Gor Mahia FC, Garde Republicaine

Group B: Singida Black, Simba SC, Jamus SC, Mogadishu CC

Group C: Al Hilal SC, Rayon Sports FC, Tusker FC, KVZ SC

Kenya Premier League reigning champions, Gor Mahia FC have made an early arrival in Kigali, Rwanda ahead of the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

The three time CECAFA Kagame Cup winners arrived today in Kigali for few days of training.

Coach Charles Kwabian Akonnor’s team will also have the opportunity to test themselves against Rayon Sports FC in the annual Rayon Day celebrations on Saturday.

“I am very delighted that the CECAFA Kagame Cup comes at such a time because it will give the team good preparations ahead of the new season,” says coach Akonnor.

K’Ogalo as the team is known will have few days of training and acclimatize before kick starting their Group A campaign against Rwanda giants APR FC on July 24^th at the Amahoro Stadium.

The Gor Mahia FC side has been busy in the transfer market and will have the opportunity to test some of their new recruits in the regional tournament. The team also has three Ghanaian players; George Amonoo, Ebenezer Boadi Adu-Kwau and Ebenezer Assifuah, Isaac Deng Kur (South Sudan) and Ariste Patrick Ekandjoum Essombe from Cameroon.

Gor Mahia FC, the 1980, 1981 and 1985 CECAFA Kagame Cup winners will face Vipers SC (Uganda) and Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti) in their second and third group A matches respectively.

The top team from the three groups, together with the best second placed team in all the three groups will qualify for the semi final of the competition.

The winners will bag US$30,000, the runners up US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.