Every new year of sports has a few challenges and changes, and 2024 was no different. New coaches, athletes, schools and more can do a lot to influence the game, but despite it all, great teams and players rise above the challenges to still leave their best work on the field.
The New Year will have plenty to live up to in terms of school sports excitement, as 2024 certainly delivered. Here’s a look back at the top storylines from the USSSA Sports Calendar.
FEASSA GAMES 2024
Hosted in Uganda, won by Uganda. The FEASSA Games were a success for Uganda not just in terms of medals but also infrastructure, capacity Building and cementing Uganda’s position as regional leaders. The Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association Games 2024 were hosted in Uganda by Amus College School and Bukedea Comprehensive School.
This championship attracted teams from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi competing in several sports disciplines ranging from football, netball, handball, basketball, swimming, athletics, table tennis to lacrosse among others.
Officially opened by the President H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the FEASSA Games were graced by several key figures including the Speaker Rt. Hon Anita Among, Laurent Petrynka, then International School Sports Federation president among others.
USSSA General Assembly 2024
The USSSA Annual General Meeting was held at the USSSA Offices on GNS Plaza, Old Kampala presided over by President Justus Mugisha on 7th December 2024. The AGM saw a record representation for all the 19 zones of USSSA.
Dr. Turyagenda Ketrace, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports was chief guest. Other representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports were Rev. Dr. Canon Duncans Mugumya, Commissioner Physical education and sports and Ms. Abalo Grace, senior Education Officer. This crucial meeting was also attended by various Federation heads and representatives.
2024 Sports events (local)
- USSSA Elite Games – Jinja
- USSSA Capacity Building and Training Program
- National Football Boys Championship Masaka
- Fresh Dairy Games (Ball Games I) – Ndejje
- Secondary Schools National Swimming Gala,. Seroma
- USSSA Ball Games II – Teso College Aloet
International Engagements
- ISF World Schools Volleyball Championship , Belgrade Serbia
- ISF World Schools Cross country, Kenya
- ISF World Schools Football World Cup, Dalian China
- ISF World Schools Basketball Championship (5X5), Macao P.R China
- ISF Gymnasiade Games Manama, Bahrain
- CAF African Schools Football Championship Zanzibar
- CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers Uganda
Some of the 2024 Notable Performers
What a year it was for the Zzana based! At the top of the game they were when it came to Girls football and basketball 3X3.
From conquering East Africa at the FEASSA Games with a 1-0 win over Kenya’s Butere Girls in the football final played at Bukedea Comprehensive School Sports complex to winning the Under 14 girls football crown at the USSSA Ball Games II in Soroti.
St. Noa completed the year as CECAFA U-15 champions hence qualifying for the CAF African Schools Championship finals slated for this year.
St. Noa Girls’ also won basketball 3X3 gold at the USSSA Ball Games.
FEASSA Boys Football Champions, ISF World Schools Football World Cup silver, National Boys football Championship runners up, basketball 3X3 bronze (boys), FEASSA 2024 hosts. 2024 couldn’t get much better than that would it?
St. Julian High School – Gayaza ; National Boys Football Championship winners 2024
Girls Football Champions, CAF African Schools football championship girls’ football bronze, Elite Games Girls football Champions.
Wampeewo Ntake SS – Boys handball gold at the USSSA Ball Games II, FEASSA Boys handball silver
Performance on the International Scene
Uganda participated in all the five International School Sports Federation (ISF) games for the very first time.
However, as clearly started on various occasions, this wasn’t just about participating but competing for the trophies and medals.
Three silver and three bronze medals was all Uganda managed in the year 2024 from ISF competitions.
ISF World Schools Football World Cup, Dalian China
Uganda was represented by three schools, Amus College School (boys and girls), Bukedea Comprehensive School and St. Mary’s College Kisubi
Here Amus College beat Bukedea Comprehensive School 4-2 in penalty shoot outs having played a goalless draw in regular time in what was an all Ugandan semi final affair . Amus was later defeated by China 5-4 after a 2 -all draw in regular time in the finals to settle for silver while Bukedea Comprehensive beat China II in the third place play off to seal bronze.
ISF World Schools Basketball Championship, Macao China
Represented by a girls’ and boys’ team, It was more of a learning experience for Uganda in Macao.
In the girls’ category, Uganda was represented by a National Under 18 side while Elite High School took the mantle for the boys.
Performance details; The boys team won four matches and lost twice, with one walk over victory to finish 11th overall out of the 20 teams in competition.Uganda beat Brazil (45-41), Chille 2 (78-31), China II (66-43) and Czech Republic (80-44) before falling to Mongolia (51-50) and Serbia (60-58).The would be last classification duel against Mongolia was not honoured after the Asian country had already left and thus a walk over for the Uganda.
ISF Gymnasiade, Manama – Bahrain 2024
Six schools represented Uganda in Manama City of Bahrain for the biggest ISF championship, the Gymnasiade.
The schools included; Kibuli SS, Rubaga Girls’ School, Seroma Christian High School and Mbogo Schools (Mbogo Mixed SS, Mbogo High and Mbogo College School.)
Team Uganda
Swimming and basketball 3X3 -Seroma Christian High School
Tennis (boys) – Kibuli SS
Badminton – Rubaga Girls’ Secondary School – UGA 1
Mbogo High School UGA 2 (girls) and Kibuli SS UGA 1 (boys)
Table tennis: Kibuli SS – UGA 1
Mbogo Mixed SS – UGA 2
Seroma Christian High School – UGA 3 [boys] and Kibuli SS – UGA 1 and Mbogo College School – UGA 2 [girls]
Athletics – National team
Uganda was 34th out of the 71 nations (42 medal winning countries) and 5th out of the 19 African countries which took part
To cap off a successful expedition, Uganda won a silver medal from long medley relay in athletics and two bronze from athletics and tennis thanks to exceptional performances from Brendah Chekwemoi and Kibuli SS duo Zziwa Troy Adrian and Said Musa Kato.
CAPACITY BUILDING
In this way, the national and international school sports arena was operational in the year 2024. Many sports events are scheduled to take place in the year 2025. The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) is always ready to bring the competitions closer to you.
Stay tuned with USSSA Youtube channel (USSSA TV) number one Uganda school sports channel.