The 2026 Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games I climaxed Thursday at Seroma Christian High School, Mukono.
With girls’ football postponed at the semifinal stage, the boys’ rugby 15s final took centre stage at the closing ceremony of the games that attracted about 6,500 students.
Jinja SS showed up for themselves and their pride in front of their peers from various schools by St. Mary’s College Kisubi 27-20 to win their first USSSA rugby 15s trophy.
They showed early intent through Emmanuel Enoba’s fifth minute try that was converted by Rahim Kaziba.
After unsuccessfully trying to extend the lead through another try, Emmanuel Okot scored a drop goal to make it 10-0.
Dominic Singa’s 25th minute try converted by Trey Gateja brought Smack back into contention but two minutes later Timothy Mawanda Kizito pulled Jinja further to a 13-7 lead.
A dramatic end to the half saw Benjamin Sserumaga score a try that was converted by Gateja to give Smack a 14-13 lead. Then in the last play of the half, Gateja scored another penalty to give his side a 17-13 lead.
But two early second half tries from Paul Kintu and Hashim Onyai and respectively converted by Kizito and Enoba gave Jinja an unassailable 26-17 lead. Gateja pushed Smack to 20 points with the last kick of the game.
Kakungulu, Kibuli, Kitende top
Earlier in hockey, Kakungulu Memorial School had won both the boys’ and girls’ titles after beating Ntare School 2-1 and Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga 4-0 respectively to follow in the footsteps of Wampewo Ntake who also won the U-17 boys’ and girls’ handball.
In girls’ hockey, most valuable player (MVP) Jolly Alimo scored first then set up three for top scorer Janet Nakato against Namagunga.
Aaron Opio and Yusuf Dunken scored for Kakungulu in the first half but Ntare efforts led by MVP Ian Baguma’s second half goal were not enough as the Mbarara-based side lost a third consecutive final.
St. Mary’s School Kitende (Smask) beat St. Noa 49-32 in the girls’ basketball 5×5 final but they also walked away with a second trophy in the U-17 girls’ netball.
Meanwhile, the boys’ basketball 5×5 trophy went to Amus College after they beat St. Michael High School Ssonde 33-29. But St. Michael pulled one back in the U-17s boys’ 3×3 basketball by beating Smask 11-6.
Hosts Seroma High School marginally took the U-17 girls’ basketball 3×3 title by beating Kitende 10-9.
The U-17s also played volleyball where Bukedea Comprehensive School won the girls’ title before losing the boys’ one to Standard High School Zana.
Kibuli SS were another dominant side taking gold in both boys’ and girls’ tennis and table tennis plus boys’ gold in badminton. Mbogo High won the girls’ badminton.
USSSA BALL GAMES I
WINNERS
Badminton
G: Mbogo High
B: Kibuli SS
Basketball 3×3 U-17s
G: Seroma Christian HS
B: St. Michael Ssonde
Basketball 5×5
G: St. Mary’s College Kitende
B: Amus College
Handball U17s
G: Wampewo Ntake
B: Wampewo Ntake
Hockey
G: Kakungulu Memorial
B: Kakungulu Memorial
Netball U-17s
G: St. Mary’s Kitende
Rugby 15s
B: Jinja SS
Table tennis
G: Kibuli SS
B: Kibuli SS
Tennis
G: Kibuli SS
B: Kibuli SS
Volleyball U-17s
G: Bukedea Comprehensive
B: Standard High Zana