The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) national boys football championships got underway today at the hosting Masaka SS.

The competition will last for 10 days and has attracted 64 successful secondary school teams from the 19 USSSA zones across the country.

Although the mandatory screening was delayed to start due to delayed deliverance of the school team albums from the national secretariat, it later started late Friday evening, and went on up to midnight and all this was under police alert.

“We have been lenient to schools that use ineligible players and they have taken it a norm. This time, we have decided to take it on with the help of the Police because impersonation is a criminal case in Uganda. The school teams that will be found guilty will be handed over to the Police,” said the tournament’s technical committee chairman Richard Muhumuza.

Muhumuza’s comments are a reflection of the USSSA president Justus Mugisha’s directive to all technical committees for both boys’ football in Masaka and the USSSA Ball Games I championship in Ndejje regarding the use of ineligible players as directed by the state minister for sports Hon Peter Ogwang.

School teams on arrival and screening at Masaka SS

“Pre-tournament screening will be followed by physical screening at the tournament venue. We have strict instructions from the state minister for sports (Hon Ogwang) to refer cases of impersonating to police, and for that, we have made arrangements to have police at the screening venues who will handle such cases. Headteachers and games teachers are therefore warned to be careful with the teams they present,” Said part of Mugisha’s statement.

From the day’s games, defending champions and 11-time winners St Mary’s Kitende (11 titles) open against Kisozi Seed school in a group A encounter that has also Mbale Progressive and Ngora High.

In other opening games, Buddo SS takes on Bulo parents, Amus College battles Ryakasinga CHE, Andy Mwesigwa takes on Makobore High School, Bukedea Comprehensive School opens their quest against homes side Blessed Sacrament Kimanya while hosts Masaka SS opens against Ankoe Champions Welden School.