UPSSA kids' and SNE Para athletics championship kicks off in Tororo

A total of 4,784 athletes and 1,174 officials from 164 districts, cities, municipalities, and estates have gathered for the 2026 edition of the Uganda National Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA) kids' and SNE Para athletics championship in Tororo municipality.

The week-long action, which rolled off on Monday, May 4, and runs until May 11, 2026, is being co-hosted at Tororo Rock High School and Rock View Primary School in Tororo, eastern Uganda.

The competition, supported by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in collaboration with UPSSA, has recorded an increase in the number of young boys and girls showcasing talent in sprints, long-distance running, relays, long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, and discus in the U-12 and U-14 categories.

William Bwambale, the UPSSA president, while speaking to Vision Sports on Tuesday, acknowledged the increase in the number of local governments that have presented competitors in this year's national championship.

"We have slightly registered an increase in the number of districts, cities, municipalities, and estates that have come for the championship compared to last year's edition in Kabale municipality," Bwambale said.

According to Bwambale, in the history of the primary schools' kids and SNE athletics competitions, it is only in Tororo that more districts, cities, and municipalities have been registered.

Teddy Ajuma Makola, Tororo municipal principal education officer, welcomed the visiting teams to the host city.

"You are most welcome to Tororo for this memorable championship, which we are hosting 10 years later, having last hosted it in 2016. What I know about sports is that it improves physical health, enhances mental well-being, builds better social skills, promotes unity, and is a major source of income for athletes worldwide," she said.

Rev. Canon Duncan Mugumuya, the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Education and Sports, encouraged sports officers to avoid leaving learners alone for their own interests.

Tororo District LC5 Chairperson John Okeya promised to provide full security during and after the competition.

"I want to say on the side of security, there is enough manpower that will be in position to patrol all areas where the young boys and girls will be sleeping, and even up to the playing ground, the children will be looked after," Okeya said.

Gilbert Orikiriza, the Education Officer in charge of Physical Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, asked the government to increase the annual Conditional Grant for Sports Development from 60 million shillings to at least 100 million shillings.