USSSA launches Weekend Leagues to boost talent development in schools

Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) first vice-president Harriet Apolot Eliru has urged all districts in the country to embrace Weekend Leagues as a platform for talent development.

Apolot made the call on Saturday during the launch of the Weekend League at Pallisa Secondary School in Pallisa District.

She said the Weekend League was introduced to address limited competition for school athletes outside the traditional school sports calendar.

Apolot explained that the conventional USSSA calendar largely operates around competitions held in the first and second school terms, leaving athletes with fewer opportunities to compete during other periods.

"The Weekend Leagues will provide schools with an opportunity to continue competing against institutions within their surrounding areas while giving athletes more playing time," Apolot said.

"Today we are gathered here to launch the Weekend League in Pallisa District, and introducing it means giving school athletes more opportunities to compete outside the association's regular national school sports calendar," she added.

The inaugural launch, held on October 17, 2026, was welcomed by Pallisa SS Headteacher Francis Ezaati, who appreciated the initiative and its potential contribution to school sport.

USSSA Pallisa District Chairperson John Odeke described the Weekend League as part of the association's mass sport approach aimed at ensuring every student has an opportunity to participate in a sporting discipline.

"This is our bid for mass sport, to make sure that every student, every athlete, has a discipline he or she is participating in," Odeke said.

He added that the programme will give coaches an opportunity to identify emerging talent ahead of the next season while assessing areas that require improvement.

Pallisa District Sports Officer Abubakar Onya said he is optimistic the Weekend League will expand opportunities for school athletes to compete, develop their talents and experience the wider benefits of sport, including discipline, teamwork, commitment and character development.

The Weekend League kicked off with hosts Pallisa SS beating Pallisa Progressive School 3-0 in the opening boys' football match. In the other match, Mother Kevin SS drew 0-0 with Kauka SS.

Weekend Results

Boys

Pallisa SS 3 Pallisa Progressive 0

Mother Kevin 0 Kaukara Seed SS 0

Girls

Pallisa SS 0 Olok Seed SS 0

Netball

Pallisa SS 8 Mother Kevin 6

Pallisa Progressive 1 Kaukara Seed SS 0

Volleyball

Olok 3 Pallisa SS 0

Pallisa progressive 0 Olok 3