Sports 21 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
USSSA Ball Games I: A Look at the Highs, Lows, and Controversies
The Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games concluded with a blend of impressive athletic performances, organizational challenges, and unfortunate incidents. While facilities and official officiating showed promise, issues like accessibility, results dissemination, and eligibility concerns marred the event. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/other-sport/usssa-ball-games-i-the-good-bad-and-ugly--5468592
The 2026 Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games recently wrapped up, showcasing a range of sports from rugby to netball across various age categories. The event provided a platform for young athletes, but also highlighted areas needing improvement.
The “good” aspects of the games included the provision of decent facilities spread across Mukono district. Venues like Seroma Christian High School and Namilyango College, along with partnerships with Uganda Christian University (UCU), offered adequate playing fields and courts, even managing traffic flow. USSSA’s efforts to build capacity among officials in disciplines like handball and basketball also received positive mention, with many performing commendably.
Competitively, some schools continued their dominance, with Kibuli SS and Kakungulu Memorial maintaining strong records in tennis, badminton, and hockey, respectively. However, there were shifts in other sports, with Jinja SS ending King’s College Budo’s rugby streak and new champions emerging in U-17 basketball and netball.
On the “bad” side, the games remain largely inaccessible to the public, confined within school premises during holidays, limiting fan engagement beyond participating students. The distances between venues posed a significant challenge for media and other attendees, often necessitating costly travel. A lack of a centralized platform for detailed results was also noted, with information primarily available through social media or on-site.
Fixture changes and scheduling conflicts, particularly in girls’ football and rugby, caused disruption. The article also pointed out the low participation of girls in rugby and a misplaced award ceremony for the guest of honor.
The “ugly” incidents included serious allegations of match-fixing in girls’ hockey and the discovery of ineligible players participating despite vetting processes. Furthermore, theft was an issue on the final day, with some players arrested for stealing phones, impacting teams like Kakungulu Memorial and Jinja SS.
Despite these challenges, the event underscores the continued growth and passion for school sports in Uganda, while also emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in organization and integrity.