Nte Clan makes history as Mmamba Kakoboza wins Maiden Bika football shield

By Emmanuel Sekago

History was made at the 2026 Bika Tournament finals as Nte Clan ended years of dominance in the netball competition, while Mmamba Kakoboza claimed their first-ever Bika Football Shield at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

In the netball final, Nte Clan edged Mmamba Namakaka 49-48 in a thrilling contest to lift the shield. Their triumph was even more remarkable considering the path they took to the title.

In the semifinals, Nte stopped Nyonyi Nyange, who had been chasing a third consecutive championship, before overcoming another traditional powerhouse in Mmamba Namakaka in the final.

Nte Clan’s Florence Nakato was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament following her outstanding performances throughout the competition.

Despite finishing runners-up, Mmamba Namakaka’s Sandra Namutebi emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive 187 goals.

The climax of the Bika Tournament was held on Saturday, June 6, at Muteesa II Stadium, with Airtel Uganda once again reaffirming its commitment to supporting Buganda Kingdom cultural and sporting activities.

The event was graced by the Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, alongside clan leaders (Abataka) from across the kingdom. Various sporting and cultural activities were celebrated before the day culminated in the football final.

In football, Mmamba Kakoboza wrote their own chapter of history by winning the inaugural Bika Football Shield after defeating Nkima Clan 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in normal time.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Katikkiro praised all participating clans for preserving Buganda’s cultural heritage through sport.

“The Bika Tournament is a vessel of our heritage, unity, and discipline. I congratulate Mmamba Kakoboza Clan on their victory and applaud all the participating clans for keeping our traditions alive. I urge the youth to take part in sports and steer clear of negative habits such as drug abuse and idleness. They must be intentional about building their future. Together with Airtel Uganda, we celebrate not just a winning team, but a winning culture,” Mayiga said.

Representing the tournament’s major sponsor, Airtel Uganda, Public Relations and Corporate Communications Officer David Birungi congratulated Mmamba Kakoboza on their historic achievement.

“I congratulate Mmamba Kakoboza for winning this title for the first time. There are teams that have waited decades to achieve success, and the way they celebrated shows how special this victory is. For a tournament that started in the 1950s, winning it for the first time is truly remarkable,” Birungi said.

He also commended Buganda Kingdom for successfully organizing the tournament and reaffirmed Airtel Uganda’s commitment to supporting the kingdom’s initiatives.

“As Airtel Uganda, we are grateful to His Majesty the Kabaka and the Kingdom of Buganda for continuously giving us the opportunity to partner in promoting cultural and sporting activities. The Bika Tournament remains one of the initiatives we are proud to support and grow,” he added.

The 2026 Bika Football Championship kicked off on May 2 and ran for over a month, featuring football, netball, chess, Luganda Scrabble, mini-football, and several other disciplines before culminating at Wankulukuku.

Individual football awards were also presented, with Mmamba Kakoboza’s Nicholas Kabonge named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Mbogo Clan’s Nelson Ssenkatuka finished as the tournament’s top scorer, while Nkima’s Sulaiman Kibalama was recognized as the best goalkeeper.

The tournament once again demonstrated the power of sport in uniting Buganda’s clans while preserving cultural identity and promoting talent among the kingdom’s youth.