The Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA) national ball games climaxed on Monday in the hosting Mbarara City, with Kyotera coming on top of the rest in medal collections with 3 gold titles.

Kyotera emerged as double champions in the handball U12 category, winning both boys' and girls' titles before winning the netball U14 title.

Kyotera was followed by 4 local government teams that won two titles each, with the girls’ U12 and U14 titles going to Mukono, Wakiso taking the netball girls U16 and the U16 boys’ volleyball, Butambala claimed the U12 netball girls and the U12 football boys while Nansana the boys U14 volleyball in addition to the girls’ U16 volleyball.

The surprise winners of the championship were the Rubirizi district local government team that beat Mukono 1-0 to claim the boys’ U16 football title, for a rare triumph from a team from Western Uganda, with little-known Madiokolo district claiming the U14 girls handball accolade. There were also Special Needs Education (SNE) competitions. 

The ten-day event in Mbarara had attracted 5061 participants from 135 local governments, the overwhelming numbers UPSSA president Pauline Musigire conceded they had not expected considering the attendances in the past events, hence saying they will be forced to make amends next year.

“We did not expect these numbers and we now see it will even be more next year, so we shall have to look at increasing the participation days, and good enough, we shall not now spend two days screening because we are going to change the screening system from measuring height and weight to using athletes LIN (Learner Identification Number) system,” Musigire said.

Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) president, who attended the closing ceremony, assured USSSA’s continued partnership with UPSSA for improved talent identification and development in the country right from the grassroots.

The closing moments were presided over by Commissioner of Physical education and Sports (PES) Rev Dr. Duncans Mugumya, who thanked UPSSA for a step forward in terms of sports talent identification and development but cautioned the sports officers in different local governments on discipline.

Mugumya also emphasized that all local governments must participate in sports for they are funded by the government and that those that do not adhere, must make a written explanation.

UPSSA finals results

Football

U12-Girls

Mukono 4 Obongi 1

Boys

Butambala 3 Nebbi Mun. 1

U14-Girls

Mukono 4 Kyenjojo 0

Boys

Koboko 2 Arua 0

U16-Girls

Luwero 0 (3) Nansana 0 (0)

Boys

Rubirizi 1 Mukono 0

Netball U14-boys

Mityana 4 Yumbe 3

Girls U14

Kyotera 12 Nansana 9

U12-Girls

Butambala 18 ssembabule 13

Volleyball-U14 boys

Nansana 2 Bunyangabu 0

U14 girls

Bukomansimbi 2 Kyenjojo 0

U16 girls

Nansana 2 Masaka C 0

U16 boys

Wakiso 2 Masaka C 0

Boys U 12

Jinja 2 Kalungu 1

Girls

Kalungu 2 kikuube 0

Handball

U12-Girls

Kyotera

Boys

Kyotera

U14-Girls

Madiokolo

Boys

Soroti

U16-Girls

Mubende

Boys

Namutumba