The school teams that will take part in this year’s edition of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games II on Sunday arrived at the host school St Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale ahead of Monday’s start.

The games incorporate the 13 sports disciplines of netball, volleyball, handball, rugby 7s, athletics, woodball, dance sport, football U16 and U14, 3x3 basketball, lacrosse, beach volleyball and beach soccer.

Among the favourites are Africa 3x3 champions Buddo SS, defending champions St Mary’s Kitende and Nabisunsa Girls for the girls, Standard High Zzana who are the boys’ volleyball and boys’ football U16 champions, girls’ volleyball champions St Elizabeth and new boys’ volleyball challengers Bukedea Comprehensive School.

The week-long competition has attracted about 5000 athletes from over 200 school teams that will be battling for slots at this year’s FEASSSA Games in Huye, Rwanda in September.

“We are ready to host a successful championship. We have prepared enough for all our visitors including athletes and officials and the entire Kabale Municipality and the district leadership is in support of us to ensure the games go on well,” Christopher Mande the St Mary’s College Rushoroza headteacher said.

“We are grateful to our sister schools around for the support and we can say everyone is welcome to St Mary’s College Rushoroza and Kabale at large,” Mande added.

USSSA CEO Chris Mugisha warned the teams against indiscipline and the use of ineligible players.

“We are ready for the games and we only want to warn all school teams against any cases of indiscipline and ineligibility. We have set everything ready and we want to thank the hosting school for making our work easy. We are sure of a successful championship,” Mugisha said.

This is the third and final national schools' event after boys' football in Kabarole and the Fresh Dairy Games in Mbarara in May.