School sports is growing by leaps and bounds if the sums of money involved are anything to go by.
On Saturday at their Annual General Assembly held at Front Page Hotel – Namasuba, Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) reported they plan to spend about Shs15.5b in 2026.
USSSA hope for timely funding from government (about Shs9.6b). USSSA also spends what they receive from their members for games.
They are projecting that Shs88m will come from the Elite Games due in first term at Janan Secondary School in Bombo, Shs195m from the National Boys’ Football Championships due in the first term holiday at Lira Town School, Shs560m from Ball Games I also due in the first term holiday at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono, and Shs1.69b from Ball Games II due in second term at Sacred Heart SS Gulu.
USSSA also hopes to get Shs818m from the FEASSSA Games expected to be in Tanzania in the second term holiday and Shs10m from the National Swimming Gala due in second term at Seroma.
However, USSSA and the participating schools share costs. So, usually, the money collected from schools is almost a drop in the ocean. USSSA spends almost double or triple for the aforementioned games. For example, the swimming gala is expected to take up Shs30m while Ball Games II expenses could chew up about Shs2.6b.
Among major budget increments, USSSA has also extended Shs650m and Shs500m to support their 19 zones (for their games and athletics) and the Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA).
“Uganda’s performance in athletics has declined and we have been tasked by the Ministry (of Education and Sports – MoES) to have a martial plan that will grow participation at zone level.
“We have earmarked funds to ensure we have a competition every month and a camp every holiday in all zones,” said USSSA president Justus Mugisha, who was flanked by his executive at an AGM graced by Permanent Secretary MoES Kedrace Turyagyenda and Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports Rev. Canon Duncans Mugumya.
Integrating primary schools
Meanwhile, USSSA’s support to UPSSA hads always been a point of contention with the former suspected of trying to assimilate the latter. However, Mugisha insisted the only plan is to have both bodies operate independently under a new umbrella body Uganda Schools Sports Association (USSA).
“We are in a dilemma because the law herre allows UPSSA to organize games for children aged eight to 14 while USSSA organizes for those aged 15 to 20.
“USSSA is affiliated to all international bodies but UPSSA cannot because only one body from a country can affiliate. Now, we have a crossfire because the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) has games for students aged eight to 19.
“So, we have been advised by the Ministry to form an umbrella body for the sake of affiliation and presenting teams to international bodies. This will be led by the presidents and vice presidents of these associations, an ASSHU (Association of Secondary Schools Headteachers of Uganda) representative as an exofficio, and a representative from district sports officers since primary schools closely connected to them,” Mugisha shared.
Mugumya revealed they asked that “each association seeks permission from its AGM to join this umbrella body. The AGMs can propose interim leaders for this body, who can then come up with constitution, which is needed to form a legal basis for affiliation, and a way forward.”
Members of USSSA agreed but also proposed to have an odd number of leaders on the USSA. Mugumya suggested that they include the leadership of District Education Officers.
Mugisha supported the idea saying “I have realized that the more you have all these power centres near you, the easier it is to implement your mandate.”
Speaking mandates, USSSA will also hold elections next year.
USSSA ZONES: Acholi, Ankole, Bugisu, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Busoga, Kampala, Karamoja, Kigezi, Lango, Luwero, Masaka, Mpigi, Mukono, Rwenzori, Sebei, Teso, Wakiso, West Nile
USSSA HOSTS 2026
Elite Games – Janan Secondary School, Bombo Campus
Boys’ Football – Lira Town School
Ball Games I – Seroma Christian High School, Mukono
Ball Games II – Sacred Heart SS Gulu
Swimming – Seroma Christian High School, Mukono