By Masejele Sulaiman
LIRA CITY – Amus College School were on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, crowned the new kings of secondary school football after edging arch-rivals Bukedea Comprehensive School 1-0 in a thrilling all-Teso derby final at Lira Town College.
A decisive, clinical strike from forward Otim John Brian was all Amus College needed to seal a historic victory, capping off a dominant tournament run in which they scored 12 goals and conceded just once in normal time.
Malinga’s Golden Touch
The triumph marked a remarkable personal milestone for Amus College head coach, Simon Peter Malinga, who secured back-to-back national titles. Malinga guided Buddo SS to glory last year before replicating the spectacular feat with the Bukedea-based side this season.
Speaking moments after the final whistle, an ecstatic Malinga credited divine intervention and solid institutional backing for the historic milestone.
“I want to thank the Almighty God for answering our prayers and opening the doors for us to win the national boys’ trophy,” Malinga said. “My appreciation also goes to the school administration for their unwavering support towards the team at all levels.”
The tactician revealed that his side walked onto the pitch with immense psychological confidence, having already defeated Bukedea Comprehensive at both the district and regional championship levels earlier this year.
With the national silverware secured, Malinga noted that his mission in Lira City was fully accomplished, and his attention immediately shifts to the upcoming Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in August.
Bukedea Shifts Focus to regional defense
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Bukedea Comprehensive head coach, Coach Ssali, praised his players for a spirited performance in the tense final, choosing to look at the bigger picture.
“My boys tried everything possible to lift the trophy, but it wasn’t our day. We congratulate Amus College,” Ssali noted. “Our focus now turns completely to defending the international FEASSA title we won last year in Kakamega, Kenya.”
Record-Breaking Tournament
According to Justus Mugisha, the president of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), the 2026 edition set new benchmarks for school sports in the country, registering a flawless 100% turnout. The tournament attracted 64 teams and over 1,500 participants from every corner of Uganda.
The 2026 championship also debuted several structural overhauls, notably a full classification format that guaranteed every single team played matches until the final day. It also featured strictly monitored regulations to increase actual playing time and mandatory safeguarding training for all participating student-athletes and officials.
Following their victory, national champions Amus College alongside runners-up Bukedea Comprehensive will represent Uganda at the FEASSA Games scheduled to take place in Morogoro, Tanzania, later this August.