By Masejele Sulaiman
BULAMBULI DISTRICT – The Bugisu Zone Secondary Schools Sports Association successfully concluded the Ball Games II Championships at St. Joseph Buyaga Secondary School in Bulambuli District, with schools from across the region showcasing exceptional talent, discipline, and sportsmanship.The two-day championship, held from 19th to 20th June 2026, determined the teams that will represent Bugisu Zone at the upcoming National Secondary Schools Sports Championships to be hosted at Sacred Heart Secondary School, Gulu.
Nkoma Secondary School emerged as one of the outstanding performers of the tournament. The school topped the Netball Girls category, finishing ahead of St. Joseph Buyaga SS, Mbale SS, and Yomako SS, all of whom secured qualification for the national championships.
Nkoma SS also excelled in football, clinching first place in the U17 Boys Football competition and earning a ticket to the nationals alongside Bugisu High School. The school’s boys’ netball team also finished first in their category, underlining Nkoma’s growing reputation as a sporting powerhouse in the region.
Mbale Secondary School demonstrated remarkable consistency by qualifying for the national championships in several disciplines. The school secured qualifications in netball girls, volleyball boys, volleyball girls, and various Mind Games categories, making it one of the most successful institutions at the championships.
In volleyball, Mbale SS finished second in the boys’ competition behind Nyondo SS and emerged champions in the girls’ category ahead of Nyondo SS.
Nabumali High School continued its strong sporting tradition by winning the Handball Boys championship and securing qualifications for the nationals. The school also dominated several Mind Games events, particularly in Chess and Ludo, where its participants earned qualification slots for the national championships.
Hosts St. Joseph Buyaga SS had a memorable tournament, finishing second in Netball Girls and winning the Handball Girls championship, thereby securing two places at the national championships
The U17 football competitions attracted significant attention throughout the tournament. In the boys’ category, Nkoma SS emerged champions, followed by Bugisu High School. Both schools secured qualifications to represent Bugisu Zone nationally.
In the girls’ competition, Bugisu High School claimed the championship title, while Butiru Christian Comprehensive Secondary School finished second. Both schools qualified for the national championships.
The Mind Games category witnessed intense competition in Ludo, Chess, Checkers, and Scrabble. Magale SS emerged as a strong force, securing qualification in Ludo Boys and winning both the Boys’ and Girls’ Scrabble categories.
Butiru Christian Comprehensive SS also registered notable success in Chess, Ludo, and Checkers, while Nabumali High School excelled in both boys’ and girls’ chess competitions
According to Musaka Paul Buyera, Competitions Coordinator of the Bugisu Zone Secondary Schools Sports Association.Bugisu Zone will be represented at the National Secondary Schools Sports Championships in Sacred Heart Gulu by:
* Four teams in Netball Girls
* Two teams in Football U17 Boys
* Two teams in Football U17 Girls
* Two teams in Volleyball Boys
* Two teams in Volleyball Girls
* One team in Handball Boys
* One team in Handball Girls
* Several qualifiers in Mind Games, including Ludo, Chess, Scrabble, and Checkers
•
The championships highlighted the growing standards of school sports in the Bugisu region and reaffirmed the important role of co-curricular activities in nurturing talent, teamwork, leadership, and discipline among learners