By: John Wycliffe Musinguzi
St Mary’s Kitende has emerged as the only Ugandan school to reach the semi-finals of the boys’ football competition at the 2026 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.
Kitende secured its place in the last four after defeating hosts Tanzania’s Nsumba Secondary School 1–0 in a tightly contested quarter-final played at Jamhuri Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory capped a strong run for the Ugandan school, which had earlier registered impressive results in the group stage, including a 1–0 victory over Kenya’s St Mary’s Yala and a 2–0 win against Morogoro Secondary School.
Kitende’s progression comes after Uganda entered the quarter-finals with three representatives in boys’ football. Amus College School and Kyadondo Secondary School joined Kitende in the last eight after impressive group-stage campaigns.
However, both Ugandan sides fell at the quarter-final stage.
Amus College School were eliminated by Morogoro Secondary School following a goalless draw that was decided on penalties, with the Tanzanian hosts prevailing 2–1 in the shootout.
Kyadondo Secondary School also suffered a penalty-shootout defeat after playing out a 0–0 draw with Mbeya Day Secondary School. Mbeya Day won 4–2 on penalties.
As a result, Kitende remains Uganda’s sole representative in the boys’ football semi-finals, while Tanzania has three schools still in contention and Rwanda has one. The other semi-finalists are Morogoro Secondary School, Mbeya Day Secondary School and CGF Kigali.
Kitende’s journey has been particularly notable considering the strength of the competition and the early success of the Ugandan contingent. On the opening day, three Ugandan schools-Amus College, Kyadondo and Kitende-recorded victories in boys’ football, underlining Uganda’s strong start to the competition.
St Marys Kitende Starting XI
Kitende’s progression gives Uganda a familiar storyline at FEASSA. At last year’s championship in Kenya, Bukedea Comprehensive School found itself in the same position as Uganda’s only remaining representative in the boys’ football semi-finals.
Bukedea defeated Benjamin Mpaka High School 2-0 in its decisive group match to secure a semi-final place after the early elimination of other Ugandan contenders.Bukedea went on to make the most of that opportunity. The Teso-based school defeated Kenya’s Butere Secondary School in the semi-finals before overcoming hosts Musingu Scorpions 2-1 in the final to lift the 2025 FEASSA boys’ football title and successfully defend Uganda’s crown.
This year, however, Bukedea’s title defence ended in the group stage. The reigning champions drew 1–1 with Kenya’s Kakamega High School in their final group match and failed to progress to the quarter-finals. Their elimination meant that a new champion would be crowned in 2026
The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, 20 August, with Kitende carrying Uganda’s hopes of retaining a strong presence in the race for the boys’ football title. The finals are expected on Saturday, 21 August, alongside the official closing ceremony in Morogoro.
With the other Ugandan contenders now out, all eyes will be on St Mary’s Kitende as they seek to go all the way and keep Uganda’s flag flying high in the final stages of the 2026 FEASSA Games.
Semi Finals
- Mbeya (Tz) Vs St Marys Kitende (Uganda)
- Morogoro Secondary School(Tanzania)Vs CGF Kigali(Rwanda)
