The President of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), Justus Mugisha has outlined a clear, forward-looking vision for school sports, emphasizing digital transformation, improved standards of competition, institutional leadership, and structured athlete development.
Online Registration and Digital Systems
USSSA continues to strengthen its digital operations to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The online registration system officially opened on 31st October 2025 and will close on 27th March 2026.
As part of these reforms, a UGX 10,000 transfer charge per athlete has been introduced to streamline player movements and maintain accurate records. In addition, the Competition Management System (CMS) has been rolled out for Netball, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, and Basketball to ensure better management of fixtures, results, and athlete data across competitions.
Hosting of Games and Infrastructure Standards
While the hosting of USSSA games remains rotational, priority has always been placed on schools with world-class facilities or schools willing to collaborate with the association to raise standards of existing facilities. This shift aligns with the high standards USSSA has set, particularly as several competitions are now televised. Host schools must therefore meet the required benchmarks to maintain the image school sports.
In line with long-term infrastructure development, the President revealed that USSSA is in the final stages of acquiring land that will serve as the Association’s home. The planned facilities will include pitches, and other essential sports infrastructure which could host a championship of at least 2000 athletes.
Leadership, Governance and Elections
Reflecting on governance, the President noted that he was elected into office in 2022, with the current four-year term concluding this year. During the Annual General Meeting (AGM), a Returning Officer was duly appointed, paving the way for elections that will be conducted from district level to national level, in full compliance with the USSSA Constitution and Electoral Regulations.
Athletics Reforms and Athlete Pathways
Significant reforms have been introduced in athletics to ensure better planning and athlete development. The season will feature two athletics meets:
- First meet: February – March
- Second meet: April – May
These will be followed by a national training camp in May.
The qualification pathway has also been clearly structured:
- District qualifiers: May
- Zonal qualifiers: June
- National Championships: July
This will then be followed by a residential camp in July to prepare athletes for the FEASSA Games, ensuring competitive readiness later in August in Morogoro, Tanzania.
International Engagements
USSSA will represent Uganda in six international championships this year, as we continue to give our kids exposure at a very young age. The line up is as follows;
- Handball – North Macedonia
- Basketball – Serbia
- Football and Volleyball – People’s Republic of China
- Golf – Morocco
- Gymnasiade – Host country to be confirmed
USSSA Elite Games
The USSSA Elite Games will be hosted at Janan Secondary School, Bombo. The President confirmed that final inspections will be held, expressing confidence in the school’s capacity to deliver a high-quality event in line with USSSA standards come 26th February -1st March 2026.
Induction of New Sports Disciplines
In a bid to maintain ‘mass sports’ which refers to having as many kids participating in our competitions, USSSA has introduced several new disciplines:
- Baseball, Softball and Baseball 5 (Boys & Girls)
- Demonstration sports:
- Cricket (Boys & Girls)
- Golf (Boys & Girls)
- Kabaddi (Boys & Girls)
- Kho Kho (Boys & Girls)
- Pickleball (Boys & Girls)
Through these reforms and initiatives, USSSA continues to reinforce its commitment to competition, leadership, and discipline, ensuring that school sports in Uganda remain structured, competitive, and aligned with international standards.
