Baseball makes historic debut at USSSA Ball Games II

Baseball, Softball, and Baseball5 were among the new sports showcased as demonstration games at the recently concluded Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games II, hosted in Tororo.

This marked baseball’s first appearance on the USSSA calendar.

Multiple schools actively took part, displaying impressive talent and enthusiasm across all three baseball formats. Allen VR Stanley Secondary School from Mpigi dominated, clinching titles in both Baseball and Softball.

In Baseball5, Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School from Kiryandongo emerged victorious, while also securing second place in regular baseball. Metha Secondary School from Lugazi earned silver in Softball.

These school achievements come shortly after Uganda’s national baseball team competed in the African Baseball Championship qualifiers held in April—where Kenya claimed victory. Uganda currently sits at 30th in the global baseball rankings.

Head coach of the national team and Uganda Baseball and Softball Association (UBASA) representative, Kaboggoza Ibrahim, called baseball’s inclusion in the school games a “long-awaited breakthrough.”

“Baseball should have been adopted long ago,” he told Vision Sports. “It’s safe, inclusive, and offers multiple disciplines—Baseball, Softball, Baseball5, Slow Pitch—that cater to all age groups and genders.”

Kaboggoza praised the USSSA’s adoption of baseball, especially since the sport is already introduced through Physical Education, typically taught as rounders in schools.

“Having baseball officially recognized under USSSA will accelerate growth in both the sports sector and UBASA,” he added.

UBASA aims to expand the sport nationwide and sees school games as the ideal avenue particularly in underserved regions.
“This partnership gives us a greater platform to reach learners more effectively. It’s how baseball first came to Uganda—through school demos.”

He emphasized the mental and physical benefits of the game for young people.

“It’s fast, fun, and unique. It sharpens focus, builds discipline, fosters teamwork, and boosts student confidence.”

Kaboggoza believes these tournaments could fuel talent development for national and international competition.

“Schools will become hubs for nurturing future stars. The energy we witnessed in Tororo proves that students love the sport.”

Some schools in Northern and Eastern Uganda are already embracing baseball with enthusiasm.

“They’re excited to learn and quick to adopt it,” he said. “Those regions are heating up with interest.”

He encouraged school leaders to take baseball seriously.

“Don’t see it as just another sport,” he urged. “It’s a medal sport, professionally recognized, well-paying internationally—and it’s safe and inclusive.”

“Baseball is the right sport to shape smart, disciplined, and focused future citizens.”

What Is Baseball?

Baseball is played between two teams of nine players each. The game consists of nine innings, and the team with the most runs at the end wins. One team bats while the other fields. The pitcher delivers the ball, and the batter tries to hit it and run through four bases, first, second, third, and home—to score.

Fielders aim to get players out by catching fly balls, tagging runners off base, or striking the batter out. After three outs, teams switch roles. If scores are tied after nine innings, extra innings are played until one team wins.

Unlike most sports, baseball has no game clock, though some leagues now use timers to speed up play. Players wear protective gear like gloves, helmets, cleats, and catchers use additional padding.