Buddo SS ready to defend basketball titles at USSSA Elite Championships

Buddo Secondary School’s basketball teams are gearing up to defend their crowns at the 7th edition of the USSSA Elite Secondary School Championships, set to take place at Janan Secondary School, Bombo Campus, from Thursday, February 26 to Sunday, March 1.

Games teacher Amos Agaba expressed confidence in his squads’ readiness.

“Buddo has been reigning in basketball, but it can never be easy because you are not the only one in the game. With our current preparations, our teams are ready to defend the titles,” Agaba said.

He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining dominance.

“Being champions is challenging, and defending the championship is even more challenging. We cannot just sit because we are champions. The pressure is there and we are also mounting pressure. The clear message is that we are coming to win the championship.”

Agaba emphasized the school’s commitment to player development as the key to consistency.

“We have embarked on developing players, and we believe with this group we shall remain consistent,” he noted.

Buddo enters the tournament as defending champions in both boys’ and girls’ basketball 5×5. At last year’s edition, the Buddo girls defeated Seroma Christian High School 44–30 in the final, while the boys were crowned champions after Amus College failed to turn up for the final.

Beyond basketball, Buddo has also confirmed participation in netball and football, further cementing its reputation as one of the most formidable schools in secondary sports.

The Elite Championship will feature the top eight schools per discipline from the 2025 National Championships. Disciplines include football, volleyball, basketball 5×5, basketball 3×3, rugby 7s, handball, and netball. All will have both boys’ and girls’ categories, except netball, which is exclusively for girls.

Long-time rivals St Mary’s Kitende return after a three-year absence, entering football, basketball, and netball, disciplines in which they have traditionally excelled. Standard High School Zzana (STAHIZA) will field boys’ and girls’ football teams alongside boys’ volleyball, while Bukedea Comprehensive School continues its rise with entries in boys’ and girls’ volleyball as well as boys’ football.

Amus College School has registered teams in boys’ and girls’ football in addition to basketball, while Kawanda Secondary School will compete in netball and handball. Hosts Janan Secondary School will also field teams in football, netball, volleyball, and basketball, hoping to capitalise on home advantage.

Last year’s winners included Bukedea Comprehensive (boys’ volleyball), St Elizabeth (girls’ volleyball), Jinja Progressive Academy (boys’ football), St Noa Girls (girls’ football), Busoga College Mwiri (boys’ rugby 7s), and Nkoma SS (girls’ rugby 7s).

With Buddo determined to defend its basketball dominance and rivals returning stronger, the 7th USSSA Elite Championships promise three days of intense competition and high drama.

Previous winners (2025)

Volleyball Boys: Bukedea Comprehensive

Volleyball Girls: St. Elizabeth

Football (Boys)-Jinja Progressive Academy

Football (Girls)-St.Noa Girls

Netball: Buddo SS

Handball Girls- Gombe SS

Handball Boys-Bombo Army

Basketball 3×3 (Boys)-Buddo SS

Basketball 3×3 (Girls)-Buddo SS

Rugby 7s (Boys)-Busoga College Mwiri

Rugby 7s (Girls)-Nkoma SS

Basketball 5×5 (Girls)-Buddo SS

Basketball 5×5 (Boys)-Buddo SS