From USSSA capacity building graduate to international volleyball referee: The inspiring journey of Kobusingye Cynthia

By Emmanuel Sekago

KOBUSINGYE Cynthia, a Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Capacity Building graduate volleyball referee from Kanungu-Kihembe, continues to make remarkable strides in the world of volleyball officiating, with her journey now extending onto the international stage.

Her most recent achievement came when she participated in the recently concluded Zone V African Nations Volleyball Championship 2026, which was hosted at the MTN Arena Lugogo in Kampala. The tournament brought together some of the best volleyball nations in the region and provided yet another platform for Cynthia to showcase her growing officiating expertise.

Cynthia’s journey in volleyball refereeing began through the USSSA Capacity Building Programme. She attended the Level One refereeing course in 2023 before progressing to Level Two in 2024. Her dedication and commitment quickly earned her recognition, leading to sponsorship by USSSA to attend the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) National Referees Course in February 2024.

At the prestigious course, Cynthia emerged among the best-performing candidates and was awarded a certificate of completion by Mr. Waleed Abdelsamad, an FIVB Referee Coach and Instructor as well as a member of the CAVB Refereeing Commission.

Since then, she has actively participated in numerous USSSA competitions, officiating district and zonal qualifiers, Elite Games, National Post-Primary Championships, and the 2024 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games hosted at Bukedea Comprehensive School.

Beyond volleyball officiating, Cynthia is a registered nurse who has successfully integrated her medical expertise into sports. Her background in healthcare enables her to support athletes both on and off the court, particularly in the management of injuries during competitions.

Throughout her officiating journey, Cynthia has benefited from the mentorship and guidance of some of Uganda’s most respected volleyball officials. She credits Dr. Innocent Komakech, an international FIVB referee, and Mr. Jethro Kasaigi, a CAVB international referee and Head of Referees at the Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF), for playing a significant role in shaping her career.

“Through their continuous mentorship and support, I look forward to becoming as good a referee as they are,” Cynthia says.

The mentorship has enabled her to steadily rise through the ranks, officiating various Uganda Volleyball Federation competitions, including the National Volleyball League, National Club Championships, and several open tournaments such as the Aporu Memorial Tournament, KAVC-NSSF International Tournament, and the 2025 University Games hosted by Uganda Christian University in Mukono.

Her growth has also seen her earn opportunities on the international scene. She officiated at the 2025 Zone V Club Championship and notably handled the opening women’s match between Uganda and Tanzania as First Referee, working alongside Rwanda’s international referee Alphonse Ndyayisaba, who served as Second Referee.

Her international exposure continued to expand with her participation in the recently concluded Zone V African Nations Volleyball Championship 2026, another milestone in a refereeing career that continues to flourish.

Cynthia remains ambitious and eager to further develop her skills through additional exposure and advanced refereeing courses, including the International Referees Candidate Course (IRCC).

As one of the fast-rising products of the USSSA Capacity Building Programme, she believes her dream is steadily becoming a reality through consistency, discipline, and continuous learning.

Talking to Wallnetnews Digital, Cynthia revealed her aspirations of officiating on even bigger stages in the future.

“I look forward to experiencing bigger platforms, bigger tournaments, bigger crowds, and bigger championships such as the ISF Gymnasiade Games, the Olympic Games, African Club Championships, and the FIVB World Volleyball Championships,” she said.

With a smile of gratitude, Cynthia paid tribute to the USSSA leadership for creating opportunities that continue to transform the lives of young people across the country.

“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the USSSA Executive Committee, especially Emeritus Patrick Okanya, the head of the USSSA Capacity Building Programme, for this life-changing initiative. The programme has shaped many young people into career men and women and given them purpose.”

She also thanked USSSA President Justus Mugisha, Chief Executive Officer Chris Mugisha, and the entire USSSA team for their dedication to nurturing talent and creating opportunities for young Ugandans.

“May God richly bless you for your tireless efforts in promoting and developing talent among young people,” she concluded.

Today, Cynthia stands as a shining example of how the USSSA Capacity Building Programme is not only developing sports officials but also empowering young Ugandans to pursue successful careers and make meaningful contributions both within and beyond sport.