USSSA releases 2026 National Ball Games & U20 football programme

The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) has released the full programme for the 2026 National Ball Games I and the U20 Boys Football Championship, outlining key dates, venues, and preparations for the major school sports events.

USSSA President Justus Mugisha confirmed that the two championships have been separated to make it easier for schools, officials, and the public to follow the competitions clearly.

“In the interest of easy following for the games by the entire community, we decided to separate dates for Ball Games I Nationals and the U20 Boys Football National Championship,” Mugisha said.

He added that while the hosting system remains the same, the competitions will now be held on different dates to improve organisation and reduce congestion.

“This arrangement will help us improve coordination, give each sport enough attention, and ensure better management of teams, venues, and officials across the country,” he said.

Ball Games I Championship

The Ball Games I championship will take place first at Seroma Christian High School, running from April 29 to May 9. This will be followed by the U20 Boys Football Championship at Lira Town College from May 10 to 20. Approximately 250 teams from across Uganda are expected to participate in the two national events.

“We expect strong participation from all regions, and this year’s competitions will be highly competitive across all sports disciplines,” Mugisha said.

For Ball Games I, team verification was conducted at the national offices from April 15 to 25, while team replacements will be handled on April 24. The national launch draws will be held on April 27 at the national offices.

Teams will arrive at Seroma Christian High School on April 29 for physical screening, meetings with referees and technical officials, and technical briefings. On April 30, students will meet officials before competitions begin at various venues.

The opening ceremony will take place on May 1 at Seroma CHS, with competitions continuing until May 6. The finals and closing ceremony will be held on May 7, followed by departure on May 8.

Ball Games I will include basketball, netball, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, and U20 girls' football. Matches will be played at multiple venues in Mukono, including Uganda Christian University, Seroma CHS, Seeta High School A-Level Campus, Namilyango Junior School, Mukono Bishop grounds, and Our Lady grounds.

A total of 64 schools will participate, representing 19 zones across Uganda, including Kampala, Wakiso, Ankole, Teso, and Busoga. The competition is expected to be highly competitive, especially in girls' football.

Top schools such as St. Noa Girls Secondary School, Amus College School, Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, Jinja Progressive Academy, St. Peter’s Hoima, Mukono Kings, and Boni Consilii Girls Vocational School will feature in the tournament.

Defending champions St. Noa Girls return after winning the 2025 title in Bukedea, where they defeated Amus College 5–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw in regulation time.

U20 Boys Football Championship

The U20 Boys Football Championship will be hosted at Lira Town College, marking the first time the Lango region has hosted this national event. The competition will run from May 10 to 20.

Team arrival and physical screening will take place on May 10, followed by meetings with officials and technical briefings. The competition will officially begin on May 11, with the opening ceremony scheduled the next day.

Matches will continue until May 18, while the finals and closing ceremony will be held on May 19. Teams will depart the following day.

Lira Town College has confirmed full readiness to host the championship, with accommodation, clean water, medical services, electricity, and strong security arrangements already in place. More than 19 venues across Lira City will be used, including Lango College, Dr. Obote College, Uganda Technical College Lira, Comboni College, and others.

USSSA also held a consultative meeting this week with national sports federations and the Ministry of Education and Sports ahead of the championships. The meeting focused on logistics, technical support, athlete development, facilities, and improving player eligibility systems.

Federations represented included FUFA, the Uganda Rugby Union, Uganda Basketball Federation, Uganda Volleyball Federation, Uganda Table Tennis Association, Netball Uganda, Uganda Hockey Association, and Uganda Handball Federation. Government officials including Duncans Mugumya and Grace Abalo also attended.