By Masejele Sulaiman
Busiu, Mbale District | June 27, 2026
Nyondo Secondary School emerged as the overall champions of the USSSA Mbale District Athletics Championship 2026, following an impressive performance at the competition held at Busiu Secondary School Playground.
The championship brought together secondary schools from across Mbale District to compete in a variety of track and field events. The annual event aims to identify and nurture young athletic talent while promoting discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship among learners.
Nyondo Secondary School topped the standings with 332 points ahead of Nabumali High School, which finished second with 256 points. Hosts Busiu Secondary School secured third place with 195 points, followed by Nabumali Secondary School (181 points), Musese Secondary School (117 points), and Namawanga Secondary School (83 points).
The championship was praised for its organization and competitive spirit. According to the USSSA Mbale District Executive Committee, the event provided an important platform for learners to showcase their athletic abilities while strengthening cooperation among member schools.
The committee expressed appreciation to headteachers, games teachers, coaches, officials, and participating schools for their commitment to developing school sports. Special recognition was also given to Busiu Secondary School for successfully hosting the championship and providing the facilities that ensured the event ran smoothly.
The district has now turned its attention to the USSSA Bugisu Zone Athletics Championship, scheduled for 3rd July 2026 at Busiu Secondary School. Qualified athletes from participating schools will compete for places at the USSSA National Athletics Championships, making the zonal event an important qualification stage.
The Executive Committee, led by Mr.Musaka Paul Buyera, encouraged schools that did not participate in the district championship to prepare for future competitions, emphasizing that wider participation is essential for strengthening athletics development in Mbale District.
Concerns Over Regional Participation
Sports stakeholders have noted that the Mbale District remains the only district within the seven districts of the Bugisu sub-region consistently organizing a comprehensive district athletics championship. Some observers believe other districts have shifted their focus toward different sporting disciplines, resulting in reduced participation in athletics competitions.
There have also been concerns over the absence of schools from Mbale City, which previously participated in district athletics activities. Schools such as Mbale Secondary School and Nkoma Secondary School have not been featured in recent championships. According to reliable sources, some schools have expressed readiness to compete at the city level, but organizers have cited financial challenges as a key factor affecting the organization of city competitions.
Sports administrators hope that increased support from education stakeholders and local authorities will enable more districts and city schools to return to athletics, ensuring that more young athletes have opportunities to compete and progress to zonal and national championships.
The successful conclusion of the 2026 Mbale District Athletics Championship reinforces the district’s commitment to talent identification and development, with expectations that participation will continue to grow in future editions.