Schools Defend Bids to Host 2027 USSSA National Games
Representatives of schools bidding to host the 2027 Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) National Games presented their proposals on Wednesday at the USSSA offices in Old Kampala, outlining their sporting facilities, accommodation capacity and previous experience in hosting major competitions.
The presentations attracted directors, head teachers, deputy head teachers and sports teachers from several schools seeking to secure hosting rights for the different national championships.
Among the schools represented were Kabalega Secondary School, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Seroma Christian High School, Mbarara High School, Nyakasura School, St Kaggwa Bushenyi High School, Janan Secondary School Bombo, St Mary’s College Rushoroza and Kigezi High School.
The USSSA Executive committee members in attendance were led by the President Mr. Justus Mugisha, First Vice President Ms. Apolot Harriet Margaret, Second Vice President Mr. Okot P’Bitek, Third Vice President Ms. Celia Amanya and President Emeritus & Capacity Building Coordinator: Mr. Patrick Okanya.
Other members Miriam Makeba, Bithola Ocukune Francis from the Northern zone, Kugonza Fred from western Uganda and Alwenyi Alice from Kampala Zone.
USSSA president Justus Mugisha said the meeting was organized to receive and officially consider bids from schools that had expressed interest in hosting the 2027 national competitions.
“We are here today to receive and officially receive the bids of schools that showed interest in hosting the National Games in 2027,” Mugisha said.
He noted that the standard of school sports in Uganda had continued to improve over the years, partly because schools were investing more in sporting infrastructure to meet the demands of hosting major competitions.
“I am also glad to note that the level of our games has continuously improved for some time now, and we are getting better every year. When schools bid, they commit themselves, and that is why the facilities in our schools have gone up,” he added.
Reverend Dr. Canon Duncans Mugumya, commissioner Physical Education and sports welcomed the number of schools that had submitted bids, expressing satisfaction with the delegations and encouraging schools to strengthen collaboration with co-host institutions and local governments.
He thanked schools that had agreed to co-host the competitions, noting that such partnerships would help learners experience and participate in the events more effectively.
Mugumya also urged bidding schools to ensure that their co-hosts were fully informed about their responsibilities and expressed appreciation for the involvement of local governments in the preparations.
“I am anxious to listen to your presentations, and I wish you all the best,” he concluded.
Kabalega SS banks on experience for football bid
Kabalega Secondary School was among the first institutions to present its proposal, seeking to host the 2027 National Boys’ Football Championship.
The bid was presented by head teacher Jackson Katusiime, who highlighted the school’s extensive football facilities and experience in organizing national competitions.
According to the presentation, the school had access to 14 football pitches, including three within the school and three more located just outside its premises. Additional facilities are available within walking distance, including grounds near the Masindi Golf Course.
Katusiime said the school’s case went beyond its available facilities, pointing to its previous experience hosting the championship in 1999 and 2006.
“Our case goes beyond football success. We have hosted this championship in 2006, so we are experienced,” he said.
The school hopes its infrastructure and historical experience will strengthen its chances of securing the hosting rights.
Sacred Heart SS bid to host Elite Games
Sacred Heart Secondary School in Gulu submitted its bid looking to co-hsot with St Joseph’s College Layibi to host the 2027 Elite Games.
The presentation was made by Olara Emmanuel Yagos, secretary of the USSSA Acholi Zone, on behalf of Sacred Heart head teacher Sister Hellen Lamunu.
The proposal highlighted the schools’ combined accommodation capacity and sporting facilities, including football pitches, basketball courts at Gulu Community Park, and track-and-field facilities.
The schools also reported that essential services, including electricity and water, were readily available to support the competitions.
Yagos mentioned that Sacred Heart had previously hosted Ball Games I and II, as well as the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in 2017.
“Sacred Heart has successfully hosted Ball Games I and II, not forgetting FEASSA Games in 2017, and our entire community in Gulu is sports-loving,” he said.
The partnership is expected to draw on the facilities and experience of both institutions, alongside support from the wider Gulu community.
Seroma makes case for Ball Games I
Seroma Christian High School in Mukono presented its bid to host the 2027 National Ball Games I, with deputy head teacher Flavia Mwanje outlining the institution’s experience in accommodating large numbers of athletes and officials.
Mwanje cited the school’s experience during a previous Ball Games I competition, saying the institution had successfully accommodated thousands of participants with support from its co-hosting schools.
“We hosted 568 schools, with 7,082 people who were hosted successfully. We have co-hosting schools, with Namilyango College being the main co-host and where the boys will reside,” Mwanje said.
The proposed venues would be spread across several institutions, including Seroma Christian High School, Uganda Christian University (UCU), Seeta High School, Bishop Secondary School and Seeta School.
The plan includes 10 football pitches, six basketball courts at Seroma and UCU, two handball courts at UCU, and hockey and rugby facilities at Namilyango College.
Badminton and table tennis to be held in the schools main hall and auditorium, while four courts would be available for basketball 3×3. Namilyango College would also host baseball, rugby and hockey, while Bishop Secondary School would provide two lacrosse pitches.
The opening and closing ceremonies are planned for the main pitch at Seroma Christian High School.
Resident director Amelia Kyambadde said the school’s bid was also intended to demonstrate that private institutions could successfully host major national sporting competitions.
“It is traditionally known that only government schools can host such events, but as Seroma, we are here to represent the private schools as well,” Kyambadde said.
Janan SS Bid to host Elite Games
Janan Secondary School Bombo also submitted a bid to host the 2027 Elite Games, with the presentation delivered by the school’s sports manager, Emma Lugolobi.
The school highlighted its accommodation facilities, saying it had enough dormitories to house more than 2,000 athletes, both boys and girls, and had constructed additional dormitories in preparation for the event.
Janan also outlined its sporting infrastructure, which includes two playgrounds within the school.
Its proposed co-host, Standard High School Zana, Ndejje Campus, also has two football pitches, while basketball and volleyball courts are available within the institutions.
Additional grounds at neighboring institutions, including Bombo Secondary School and Janan Primary School, would provide further options for hosting competitions.
The school believes its accommodation capacity and network of nearby sporting facilities could support the successful organization of the Elite Games.
Mbarara High cites record in hosting major events
Mbarara High School presented its bid to host the 2027 National Boys’ Football Championship, with deputy head teacher Nicholas Kashaija and head teacher Hamm H. Ahimbisibwe outlining the institution’s experience in organizing major sporting events.
Kashaija said the school was accustomed to handling large gatherings, having participated in hosting several major competitions in previous years.
“Mbarara High School has a history of hosting major sporting events and other events, such as Elite Games 2023, National Ball Games I 2023 as co-host of Ntare School, Ankole Boys’ Football and the National MDD Championship alongside Maryhill and Ntare School,” Kashaija said.
The school’s proposal identified several football venues in the greater Mbarara area, including Ntare School, Nyamitanga, Mbarara Army Secondary School, Bishop Stuart University in Kakoba and St Joseph’s Vocational Institution.
The identified venues offer multiple playing grounds that could help accommodate the demands of a national football championship.
The presentation also highlighted partnerships with Ruharo Mission Hospital and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital as part of the school’s wider preparations and support any medical needs.
Competition expected to raise sporting standards
The bids reflect the growing interest among secondary schools in hosting national sporting competitions, with institutions presenting their facilities, previous experience and partnerships as key strengths.
The involvement of co-host schools and local governments was also highlighted as an important factor in organizing events that attract large numbers of learners, officials and supporters.The bidding process also underscores the association’s continued emphasis on improving sporting infrastructure and strengthening the capacity of schools to host major competitions
Nyakasura targets Ball Games I
Nyakasura School submitted its bid to host the 2027 National Ball Games I, with Director of sports and games Daniel Musinguzi presenting the proposal on behalf of head teacher Reverend Dr. Richardson Balinda.
The school identified Kyebambe Girls’ School, St Leo’s College Kyegobe and Canon Apollo Core Primary Teachers College (PTC) as its co-hosting institutions.
Under the proposed arrangement, Nyakasura School and Canon Apollo PTC would accommodate female participants, while Kyebambe Girls’ School and St Leo’s College Kyegobe would accommodate male participants.
The bid outlined an extensive network of sporting facilities across Fort Portal City, including 10 football pitches located between one and eight kilometers apart.
Seven basketball courts would be available across Nyakasura School, Canon Apollo PTC, St Leo’s College Kyegobe and the seminary.
The proposal also identified six table tennis tables, badminton facilities and venues for under-16 basketball at the seminary and St Leo’s College Kyegobe.
Baseball and softball would be staged at Katojjo, near the prisons, while Nyakasura School would provide its cricket oval for cricket competitions.
Athletics would take place in Kabura, near St Leo’s College Kyegobe, while tennis would use courts at Nyakasura School, the seminary and Canon Apollo PTC.
The school also proposed hosting rugby fifteens at Boma grounds.
The distributed facilities are expected to support the organization of the different disciplines while easing pressure on individual venues.
Kigezi High, Kabale SS present joint bid
Kigezi High School, in partnership with Kabale Secondary School, submitted a joint bid to host the 2027 National Games, with games teacher Charlotte Atuhirire presenting the proposal.
The schools pointed to their combined sporting facilities and accommodation capacity, with venues spread across the two institutions and other locations within Kabale town.
The bid also highlighted the schools’ experience in hosting major sporting events, noting that the last time they hosted a national event was in 2013, when they staged the Coca-Cola Football Championship.
Kabale Main Stadium has been proposed as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as some of the competitions.
The proposal further identified several medical facilities in the area, including Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, to support the health and safety needs of participants during the games.
The partnership is expected to draw on the resources of both schools and other venues across Kabale to accommodate the various sporting disciplines.
St Kaggwa, Bweranyangi combine forces for Ball Games I
St Kaggwa Bushenyi High School submitted a bid to host the 2027 National Ball Games I in partnership with Bweranyangi Girls’ School.
The proposal was presented by St Kaggwa head teacher Possy Kananga Kamugisha, who highlighted the two schools’ participation in previous editions of the National Ball Games and their record of winning trophies.
The proposed football venues include Bushenyi Main Stadium, Bweranyangi Girls’ School, Bweranyangi Primary School, Gashenyi and Uganda Technical College (UTC) Bushenyi.
Bweranyangi Girls’ School would also provide a hockey pitch, reflecting its experience in the sport, having competed at various levels up to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games.
Kitabi Seminary was identified as another venue, with facilities for basketball and football.
Bushenyi Main Stadium has been proposed to host both the opening and closing ceremonies.
Bweranyangi Girls’ School head teacher Molly Buhwairoha Musinguzi expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to deliver a successful championship.
“I am here to affirm that we are ready to host these games. We have the potential to do so,” she said.
The bid also received support from Bushenyi District, represented by Deputy Chief Administrative officer Hillary Twebaze, who accompanied the delegation.
Twebaze pledged the district’s commitment to ensuring the safety of participants should St Kaggwa be awarded the hosting rights.
“I am here to reaffirm the district’s commitment to make sure that if St Kaggwa are given the chance to host these games, the students who come from across the country stay in a secure Bushenyi,” he said.
The involvement of the district was presented as an important component of the proposed arrangements, particularly in ensuring a safe environment for visiting learners and officials.
St Mary’s, Kigezi High bid for Ball Games II
St Mary’s College Rushoroza, in partnership with Kigezi High School, submitted a bid to host the 2027 National Ball Games II.
The proposal was presented by St Mary’s College games teacher Victor Ahabwe on behalf of head teacher Mande Christopher.
Ahabwe highlighted the institution’s previous experience in hosting national competitions, noting that St Mary’s had hosted National Ball Games I in 2017, when the competition was sponsored by Fresh Dairy, and National Ball Games II in 2023.
He said the proposed hosting arrangement was intended to benefit the wider Kigezi region rather than the two institutions alone.
“Our school has hosted National Ball Games I in 2017, when it was still sponsored by Fresh Dairy, and Ball Games II in 2023. Our hosting is not for just St Mary’s or Kigezi High School, but the whole Kigezi region,” Ahabwe said.
St Mary’s College was identified as a major accommodation centre, although the precise accommodation capacity was not specified in the presentation details provided.
The proposed sporting venues include football pitches, the home ground of Kigezi Homeboyz, and three basketball courts at St Mary’s College.
Kigezi Primary School has been proposed as a netball venue, while Kabale National Teachers College (NTC) would host rugby sevens.
The bid also proposed beach soccer and beach volleyball facilities, alongside scrabble and wood ball at Kigezi High School.
The joint bids also illustrated how schools intend to share facilities and distribute sporting disciplines across different venues to improve the organization of the championships.
As the bidding process continues, the schools will be hoping that their infrastructure, experience and proposed partnerships will convince USSSA that they are capable of successfully hosting the 2027 National Games.
The final allocation of hosting rights will be communicated.
