Soroti targets third straight Teso Zonal Athletics title

The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Soroti district athletics team is set to retain the Teso zonal athletics trophy when this year's qualifiers roll off today, Thursday, in Kumi District, Eastern Uganda.

Soroti, which lifted the Teso zonal athletics trophy in 2024 and 2025 during qualifiers hosted in Serere and Kaberamaido respectively, is now targeting a third consecutive victory to keep the trophy permanently.

USSSA Soroti district chairperson Joseph Ecegem expressed confidence in his team's chances, noting that Soroti is among the ten districts that will be at the center stage during the five-day zonal ball games II and athletics championship, scheduled to run from June 24 to 28, 2026, at Bishop Maraka College and Wiggins SS.

"So far, I don't see any reason why Soroti district shouldn't win the athletics overall trophy this time again. We managed to win it during the last two years, and being at the center of the Teso sub-region, we receive good athletes," said Ecegem.

Joseph Ecegem, Soroti district USSSA chairperson, addressing athletes and presenting medals during the district secondary schools athletics championship

According to Ecegem, during the Soroti district athletics championship held on Saturday at Soroti Sports Ground, Soroti SS was declared champions with 186 points, ahead of Aloet Parent SS and Teso College Aloet, which finished second and third with 184 and 152 points respectively. He said the championship enabled the association to identify a total of 32 young boys and girls who will be in position to compete at the zonal qualifiers.

The zonal championship will bring together athletes from the ten districts that form the USSSA Teso zone, comprising Soroti district and city, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Kapelebyong, Kumi, Bukedea, Ngora, Serere, and Katakwi. They will battle for top honors and select the zone's athletics team that will represent the region at the USSSA National Ball Games II Athletics Championship, scheduled for next month at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Gulu City.

USSSA Teso zone chairman John Robert Osuu expressed confidence that the championship will produce a highly competitive team capable of challenging for national honors. "Several schools from all the districts that make up the USSSA Teso zone have confirmed their participation, and we expect stiff competition across all race events and athletics disciplines," he said.

Osuu outlined the zone's ambitious target of winning the national athletics title. "Our goal is to win the USSSA National Ball Games II Athletics trophy. We are determined to build a strong team and compete for the top prize," he added, noting that other zones, including the host USSSA Acholi Zone, will also provide stiff competition.