Ndejje University successfully defended the Federation of East Africa University Sports (FEAUS) games after collecting a total of 124 medals from the 19 disciplines that they competed in, as the 12th edition of the games ended at Ndejje Main Campus in Luwero on Wednesday.

Ndejje who finished second overall in the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) games held at Kenyatta University in June, bagged 59 gold, 39 silver and 26 bronze to win and beat second-placed Makerere University to the top spot by 56 medals; and win for the sixth consecutive time.

Bugema Univeristy football team pose with the FEAUS 2022 football trophy

Makerere collected 21 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze to finish second ahead of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) that finished third overall with a total of 40 medals (15, 6, 19 bronze) in the biennial event that attracted 32 universities but only 25 won at least a medal over the four days of action.

Kenyatta University finished fourth overall with 63 medals but with fewer gold medals than MUBS while Uganda Christian University (UCU) picked a total of 20 medals to finish 5th.

Katikamu South MP Hassan Kirumira (left) hands over a trophy to Bugema University Sports Tutor Agnes Baluka after the 12th editionof the FEAUS Games at Ndejje University, December 21, 2022. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In winning the overall trophy, Ndejje’s female athletes led by swimmer Rashida Najjuma who collected 16 individual gold from the pool; led the way with a total of 32 gold medals including 13 silver and 14 bronze from the different events.

Ndejje collected the most medals from the athletics events, picked gold and bronze from the men and women basketball; silver and bronze from badminton; silver from beach handball, silver and gold from Darts, two gold from handball, topped the karate in both genders, swimming, silver in the men’s volleyball and came top in the woodball sport in both genders.

Basketball captains from UCU, Victoria University and Ndejje pose with their awards. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Makerere came top in badminton, tennis and chess, second in scrabble, third in swimming and table tennis and third overall in woodball while MUBS notched four gold from athletics, one silver and one bronze from scrabble, as well as 9 gold, 3 silver and 10 bronze from swimming.

Kenyatta University was the best among the foreign cast having won two gold from table tennis (men’s singles and mixed doubles) on top of topping the scrabble completion as Kenya Methodist University dominated the Taekwondo contests with a combined six gold, six silver and four bronze while KCA University won the hockey gold over Kenyatta and Makerere University opposition.

Busitema University won the football gold after beating UCU in the final while Victoria University also picked debut gold in the women's basketball with victory over UCU.

L-R: Patrick Ssekigongo, Eriab Lugujjo and Paul Mark Kayongo (right) pose with the minister Peter Ogwang. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The games were officially closed by the state minister for Sports Peter Ogwang who crowned the top three teams alongside Ndejje University Vice Chancellor Eriab Lugujjo, Katikamu South Member of Parliament Hassan, AUUS president Peninah Kabenge, FEAUS president Simon Munaayi among other AUUS, FEAUS and Ndejje University top brass.

Ogwang tasked the universities to continue fighting the use of mercenaries in university games and pledged to support the team that will be selected to represent the country in the FISU Games in July in China next year.

Top ten universities

                       Gold     Silver     Bronze     Total

Ndejje            59         39          26              124

Makerere       21         20          27               68         

MUBS           15         16          19               40

Kenyatta        9           21          33               63

UCU              8           7            5                 20

KIU               7           7            8                 22

Kenya Methodist 6    6             5                17

Mount Kenya 5          7           11                23

Maseno        3             8           14               25

Kisii             3             1            1                 5

Top three teams Men

Ndejje

Makerere

MUBS

Top three teams Women

Ndejje

Makerere

KIU

Past winners 

1999 – Egerton University

2000 – Makerere

2002 – Makerere

2004 – Makerere

2006 – Ndejje

2008 – Makerere

2010 – Ndejje

2012 – Ndejje

2014 – Ndejje

2016 – Ndejje

2018 – Ndejje

2022 - Ndejje