The 2026 Buganda Kingdom Schools Sports Competitions have concluded successfully after five days of sporting activities at Kawanda Secondary School in Kyaddondo.
The closing ceremony on Sunday was presided over by the Attorney General of the Buganda Kingdom, Christopher Bwanika, who represented the Katikkiro (Prime Minister), Charles Peter Mayiga.
In his remarks, Bwanika commended the high level of talent and sportsmanship displayed by the participating students across various sporting disciplines.
He said the quality of performance reflected the enduring prestige of the Buganda Kingdom, particularly as newly introduced sports were enthusiastically embraced by the young athletes.
Bwanika also praised the Buganda Kingdom Ministry of Sports and the organizing committee for successfully coordinating the competitions, noting that their efforts align with the Kabaka’s vision of nurturing youth talent while promoting healthy lifestyles.
“Sports are a foundation for healthy living. They support the wellbeing of the entire nation while also nurturing talent, as we have witnessed here. Many of the athletes who go on to represent our country begin their journey in school competitions like these,” he said.
He further noted that sports have historically been embedded in Buganda’s cultural heritage. Traditional games such as Omweso and Enkuyo were played by ancestors and helped strengthen unity and social bonds within communities.
Bwanika called for greater consideration of traditional games in future competitions.
Bwanika also extended appreciation to Kawanda Secondary School for hosting the event and thanked participating schools, organizers, and students for contributing to the success of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Buganda Kingdom Minister for Youth, Sports and Talent Development, Robert Serwanga, described the competitions as a major opportunity for young people in the kingdom to showcase their talents.
He revealed that more than 3,600 student athletes participated in the tournament, drawn from both primary and secondary schools across Buganda.
“These competitions continue to grow. This year we registered 62 secondary schools and 25 primary schools, bringing the total to 87 schools, compared to 67 schools last year. We also expanded the number of sports venues, with eight schools providing facilities for the different sporting events,” Serwanga said.
He applauded the discipline and conduct displayed by participants throughout the tournament and thanked school administrators and sports coordinators for preparing students effectively.
Serwanga also appreciated the students who turned up to support their teammates, as well as organizers who ensured the competitions ran smoothly.
A total of 12 sports disciplines had initially been scheduled for the 2026 competitions, including athletics, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, handball, tug-of-war, chess, and scrabble.
However, only 10 sports were eventually played after participation in Rugby 7s and Omweso fell below the required threshold.
The results for the first and second placed schools in the various sports disciplines were announced at the conclusion of the tournament.
