A look at the FEASSSA MVPs as Uganda dominates awards

The 20th edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) came to a successful climax last week in Rwanda hosting the city of Huye.

It was yet another flourishing dominant finish for Uganda, as they were once again crowned overall champions, a third successive time, after collecting 17 of the available 25 gold medals, 11 silver, and 9 bronze, this coming in a successive year following the 18 gold medal collection in last year’s edition in Arusha, Tanzania.

Uganda did not only dominate in gold medal collections but also the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards as the Ugandan athletes collected 14 of the 25 MVP awards.

The now-proving regional giants collected gold in both boys' and girls' badminton, table tennis, swimming, football, basketball 3x3, basketball, and handball, adding to triumphs in netball, rugby 15s and boys’ hockey and all the named MVPs in these disciplines were Ugandans, save for boys’ hockey.

Kibuli’s Tendo Arafat Kibirige and Mbogo High’s Swabra Nalutaaya won the boys and girls badminton individual accolade, and Mbogo High dominated table tennis boys’ and girls’ MVP award in Sam Ankunda Mbabazi and Jalia Nandutu respectively.

And as expected Pendo Kaumi who led Uganda’s serge against Kenya in the boys swimming category won the boys' MVP with Karimah Katemba taking the girls swimming accolade.

Victorious handball boys Kakungulu Memorial’s Shakib Nyanzi took the boys’ MVP while Peace Acangombe from silver winners Gombe SS walked home with the girls' prestigious accolade.

Entertaining point guard James Obrack of dominant Buddo SS was rightly voted the boys’ basketball MVP with Kitende’s Mary Amaniyo beating her colleague Winfred Akello to the girl's MVP.

There were no Ugandan mentions in the basketball 3x3 even when Uganda won both boys' and girls' accolades, but rather the two went to Rwanda and Kenya respectively.

In football boys, St Henry’s College Kitovu winger Denish Dramke, whose side finished 3rd, walked away with the accolade after a challenging selection, with the same happening in the girls’ naming where St Noa’s Peace Olga Niyomungere, who guided the 2022 champions to a bronze medal, was named.

St Mary’s College Kisubi Mathew Musasizi, who guided his side to the Rugby 15s gold in a stiff competition. Won the accolade while the netball selection also saw 4th side Buddo SS’ Mariam Asacha pocket it.

Kenya came second to Uganda in these individual awards, having won 8 MVP accolades with Rwanda taking 3.

Uganda was named the next host of the 21st edition of the FEASSSA games next year and the hosting City/district will be named later.

Uganda’s FEASSSA games 2023 MVP awards

Badminton-Kibirige Tendo Arafat-Kibuli SS

Girls-Swabrah Nalutaaya-Mbogo High

Table Tennis-Sam Ankunda Mbabazi-Mbogo High

Girls-Jalia Nandutu-Mbogo High

Swimming-Pendo Kaumi-Team Uganda

Girls-Karimah Katemba-Team Uganda

Handball-Shakib Nyanzi-Kakungulu Mem

Girls-Peace Acangombe-Gombe SS

Basketball-James Obrack-Buddo SS

Girls-Mary Amaniyo-Kitende

Football-Denish Dramke-St Henry’s Col Kitovu

Girls-Peace Olga Niyomungere-St Noa

Rugby 15s-Mathew Musasizi-SMACK

Netball-Mariam Asacha-Buddo SS