Uganda, March 4 -- Catherine Adipo is a longtime household name in Ugandan sports circles. The Sports Science lecturer at Kyambogo University and former Fifa-accredited international referee now-turned an instructor on the continent is a trailblazer for women in football refereeing.

Adipo started her journey into refereeing in 1989. Then as a youthful graduate from Makerere University where she had completed her Bachelors of Arts in 1987, she set out into sports.

She had joined Makerere College School as a teacher in 1988 where she also doubled as a games mistress and their football coach. Among the players she trained at school include the Fufa chief executive officer Edgar Watson who went on to enjoy a glittering career at SC Villa an...