Opinion: Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) – Reflecting on 2024 and charting a Path for 2025

By Emmanuel Sekago

As we approach the end of 2024, it is important to take stock of the achievements and challenges faced by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA). This year has been nothing short of transformative, marked by both regional and global successes.

However, there remain critical areas that need attention to ensure sustained growth and excellence in Uganda’s school sports.

Uganda retained the overall championship at the FEASSA Games hosted in Teso, winning 13 gold medals.

The games, held at Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College School , were a showcase of Uganda’s sports dominance in the region, In Basketball: St. Noa’s victories in 3×3 and 5×5 categories and Amus College School’s 5×5 win against Kenya’s Laiser Hill Academy, Football: Amus College School’s historic 1-0 victory over record holders St. Mary’s Kitende in the boys’ category, Netball: St. Mary’s Kitende narrowly edged out Kawanda SS in a thrilling 51-49 final and Handball: Kibuli SS and Gombe SS delivered stellar performances.

Uganda schools made significant appearances on the global stage at ISF Football World Cup in China: Amus College School earned silver in the boys’ category, while Bukedea Comprehensive School claimed bronze. At the closing ceremony, held at the Suoyuwan Football Stadium, featured the singing of “I Am in Dalian” and “Auld Lang Syne,” symbolizing the culmination of a historic event that carried the dreams of school football players worldwide and paved the way for a new era in international school sports. The ceremony also included the awarding ceremony of individual awards and the fair play award.

During the flag handover ceremony, Ji Jing, Vice Mayor of Suzhou city, received the ISF flag from Laurent Petrynka. This marked the beginning of the “Suzhou time” for the ISF Football World Cup, with the city of Suzhou set to host this next edition of this top-level international school football event in two years.

ISF Basketball Championship in Macau, China: Both the boys’ and girls’ teams performed admirably, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively.

Gymnasiade in Bahrain: Six schools represented Uganda in various disciplines, with commendable performances  from October 23–31, 2024 with Mbogo Mixed SS: Competed in boys’ table tennis, Mbogo High School: Competed in girls’ badminton, Mbogo College School: Competed in girls’ table tennis, Rubaga Girls’ School: Competed in girls’ badminton, Kibuli SS: Competed in boys’ and girls’ table tennis, boys’ badminton, and boys’ tennis and Seroma Christian High School: Competed in boys’ and girls’ basketball 3×3, table tennis, and swimming.
USSSA continued to focus on empowering teachers, coaches, referees, and administrators. Programs held in Kampala, Mbale, and Gulu trained nearly 500 participants in January 2024 alone.

A second series of Level I and II capacity-building which ran in December 8th -14th  reached even more participants across seven zones;  Lubiri Secondary School-Kampala, Bishop’s Senior School- Mukono, Ntare School – Mbarara, St. Mary’s College School Rushoroza-Kabale, Sacred Heart College School- Gulu and Ngora High School-Teso.
The hosting of FEASSA Games in Teso prompted infrastructural upgrades at Amus College School and Bukedea Comprehensive School, further boosting Uganda’s readiness for future regional and international events.

USSSA approved a UGX 11.45 billion budget for 2025, reflecting its growing ambitions. Strategic decisions about hosting national events have been finalized, with five schools confirmed as hosts for key 2025 competitions, with St. Joseph of Nazareth High School, Kavule ( Elite Secondary school games), Bukedea Comprehensive School (Secondary School National Ball Games one), Ngora High School (Secondary School National Football Boys Championship), Seroma Christian High School (Secondary School National Swimming Gala), St. Peters College, Tororo, co-hosts (Tororo Girls School) for Secondary School National Ball Games II, Athletics, and Mind Games.

While the increased budget signals progress, there is a need for diversified funding sources. Partnering with private sponsors, NGOs, and international bodies could ease financial pressures and ensure smoother operations.

The cancellation of the 2024 awards dampened morale for many stakeholders. Reviving these awards and hosting them on time would serve as an important motivational tool for athletes, coaches, and schools.

Efforts should be made to broaden participation, especially for underrepresented districts and girls’ sports programs. A deliberate focus on inclusivity could unearth untapped talent and boost the diversity of Uganda’s representation at all levels.

While Uganda shone regionally, global performances were mixed. Concerted efforts to prepare teams for world events through better training, resources, and exposure could improve Uganda’s standings on the international stage.

USSSA needs a long-term master plan to guide its growth. This plan should outline clear goals for infrastructure development, talent identification, event hosting, and global competitiveness. Such a roadmap would establish USSSA as a benchmark for school sports bodies across the continent.

The future is bright for USSSA, but its success depends on strategic focus and execution. Priorities for 2025 should include, Expanding grassroots participation by hosting more regional qualifiers and inter-district tournaments, Securing long-term sponsorship deals for national events,Hosting FEASSA Games, ISF World Cup and other regional events to maintain Uganda’s dominance, Increasing training programs for referees, coaches, and administrators and Elevating the profiles of school sports through media partnerships and digital platforms.

2024 has been a year of milestones, but also one of challenges. The question remains: Will 2025 be a continuation of these achievements, or will it be a missed opportunity? The answer lies in USSSA’s ability to adapt, innovate, and inspire. With strong leadership and stakeholder collaboration, Uganda can further cement its position as a powerhouse in school sports.

As we look to the new year, the time to build on our achievements is now. What do you think USSSA’s priorities should be for 2025?