The 2026 Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Makindye Sports District football championship concluded in gripping fashion on a rain-soaked Monday evening, delivering both on-pitch drama and off-field controversy.
In the decisive final fixture, Kibuli Secondary School underlined their dominance with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over neighbors and rivals Kakungulu Memorial School. The breakthrough came late, as Shafik Balikiwa rose highest to power home a precise left-wing corner from Isaac Kizza, directing his header into the top-right corner to seal a deserved triumph.
Kibuli’s title run was nothing short of emphatic. They finished top of the round-robin standings with a flawless 15 points from five matches, scoring a tournament-high 13 goals without conceding. Their campaign included a resounding 7-0 demolition of Goldstar High School—the biggest win of the tournament—alongside 2-0 victories over Buziga Islamic Secondary School and St. Peter’s Nsambya, plus narrow 1-0 wins against St. Mbuga and Kakungulu Memorial.
Off the pitch, the standings were significantly altered following a successful petition by Buziga Islamic. Kakungulu Memorial were sanctioned for fielding ineligible players in their 2-1 win over Buziga. Investigations revealed that Ibrahim Azabo, born on March 13th, 2010, did not meet eligibility requirements, while Kevin Ekopa—allegedly an S.6 student—failed to present a valid UCE slip and was not included in the officially cleared players’ album after screening. As a result, Kakungulu were stripped of the win, with Buziga awarded three points and three goals.
The ruling proved decisive in the final standings. Buziga Islamic climbed to second place with 10 points, while Kakungulu Memorial dropped to third on nine.
Individual accolades reflected the tournament’s standout performers. Reagan Nyanzi of Kibuli SS claimed the golden boot with four goals, while Ronnie Asiimwe of Kakungulu Memorial was named Most Valuable Player. Kibuli’s Paddy Ssagye earned the best goalkeeper award, and Goldstar High School were recognized with the fair play honor.
The tournament, which kicked off on March 23rd, featured ten schools, including Kibuli SS, Buziga Islamic, Kakungulu Memorial, St. Mbuga, St. Peter’s Nsambya, and Goldstar High School, among others.
Kibuli SS, Buziga Islamic, and Kakungulu Memorial now advance to the Kampala Zone Championship, scheduled for April 10th to 17th across various venues in Kampala, with the final set to be staged at the iconic War Memorial Stadium – Nakivubo.
