USSSA cracks down on age cheating with online athlete registration

Age cheating, a long-standing problem that has undermined fairness in school sports competitions, is steadily being curbed by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA).

USSSA chief executive officer Christopher Mugisha says the introduction of an online registration system for all student-athletes will curb the problem.

The system captures and verifies players’ details before competitions, reducing manipulation and ensuring that only eligible students take part.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced was age cheating, but we have made progress by introducing an online registration system for all athletes. This has greatly improved transparency and fairness in our competitions,” Mugisha said.

The improved system comes as USSSA prepares for the 2026 season to protect the integrity of school games.

Mugisha said the focus is not only on competition but also on talent development, discipline and education.

“The 2026 competitions calendar reflects our deliberate effort to strengthen structured, inclusive and competitive school sports across Uganda,” he noted.

“We are focused on nurturing talent, promoting discipline and using sport as a key pillar of holistic education. We call upon all schools and stakeholders to prepare early and actively participate in making the 2026 season successful.”

The season will open with the Elite Secondary School Games, scheduled for February 26 to March 1, at Janan Secondary School in Bombo. The event will bring together the top eight teams from previous championships across several sports disciplines.

This will be followed by the Secondary School National Ball Games I Championship, which will run from April 29 to May 9, at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono.

Immediately after, the National Football Boys’ Finals will take place from May 10 to 20, at Lira Town College in Lira.

Aquatic sports will also feature prominently, with the National Swimming Gala scheduled for June 28 to 30, at Seroma Christian High School.

The national season will then climax with the National Ball Games II, Athletics and Mind Games Championship from July 8 to 18, at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Gulu. This flagship event will feature more than 20 disciplines, including athletics, rugby sevens, beach sports, mind games, Dance Sport and several demonstration sports.

On the international stage, Uganda will be represented at various International School Sport Federation (ISF) events in 2026. These include World School Championships in handball, basketball, volleyball, football and golf, as well as the ISF Gymnasiade, offering student-athletes global exposure and competitive experience.

USSSA president Justus Mugisha says the association has made measurable progress in improving the organisation and reach of school sports, even as challenges remain. Entering his fourth year at the helm, Mugisha believes the future is promising.

“We have achieved a lot during this period, especially in improving the organization of school sports and widening participation across the country,” he said.

“With the Sports Act now in place, a lot more can be achieved. It gives us a stronger framework to improve management and development of sports in schools.”

To support the ambitious 2026 calendar, USSSA has approved a projected budget of sh15 billion. The budget was endorsed during the association’s 43rd Annual General Assembly held late last year.

The funds will come from government support and internally generated revenue, including competition contributions, membership fees, capacity-building programmes, sponsorships, online registration, fines and elections. The budget will cater for national competitions, training programmes and improvement of facilities at host schools.

Major expenditure areas will include the FEASSA Games, Ball Games One and Two, the National Football Championship, international competitions, talent camps, administration, support to primary schools, capacity-building training and facility upgrades for host schools. Funding for the AGM will also be drawn from the same budget.