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By George Katongole
Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Chairperson Emeritus Patrick Okanya has pledged to spearhead efforts aimed at securing the inclusion of woodball as a full medal sport at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games by 2028.
Speaking during the woodball awards ceremony at the ongoing 2026 USSSA Ball Games II held at Gulu University School of Medicine, Okanya said Uganda would continue working closely with neighbouring countries to promote the sport and increase regional participation ahead of the 2028 FEASSA Games in Rwanda.
“Woodball deserves to be a FEASSA sport. Our neighbours have been slow in embracing the game, but we shall continue engaging them so that by the time we head to Rwanda in 2028, we shall have enough countries participating,” Okanya said.
Woodball was first introduced as a demonstration sport at the FEASSA Games in 2019 but has since struggled to gain widespread popularity among secondary schools across East Africa.
Kenya remains one of the few countries actively promoting the sport, with regular participation at the East Africa University Games, consistent appearances at the World Woodball Championships, and an active domestic league. However, the country is yet to fully support Uganda’s campaign to have woodball included as a medal event at FEASSA.
Okanya also revealed that USSSA is investing in the training and development of technical officials to improve the standard of officiating across all school sports.
“Through our capacity-building programmes, we are developing more technical officials, and very soon all our games will be officiated by USSSA-trained personnel,” he added.
Ssewante’s Fairytale Silver Medal
Following his remarks, Okanya presided over the medal ceremony for the Stroke Singles competition.
Mark Muwanguzi Mufuwa of Airforce Secondary School claimed the boys’ Stroke Singles title after returning 44 strokes, finishing ahead of Aksam Ssewante of Kyamate Secondary School, who posted 46 strokes.
Ssewante emerged as one of the standout stories of the championship after winning silver despite initially missing out on selection for Kyamate’s main team and instead competing only in the singles event.
“It feels so great winning a medal. This is actually my first medal, and I am very proud of it,” said the Senior Four student.
He revealed that he turned to woodball after asthma forced him away from physically demanding sports. Last year, he attended the championships in Tororo only as a participant in a capacity-building programme rather than as a competitor.
Kato Shanion of Jinja College completed the boys’ podium with 47 strokes.
Tasumba Triumphs in Girls’ Category
In the girls’ Stroke Singles competition, Emilly Tasumba of Luzira Secondary School emerged champion after recording 49 strokes, edging Precious Priscilla Namubiru of St Joseph’s Secondary School Naggalama, who finished second with 50 strokes.
Despite narrowly missing out on gold, former national team player Namubiru inspired St Joseph’s Naggalama to the Fairway Team semi-finals, comfortably winning her singles contest 6-0 as her school defeated Kitagata Secondary School 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Olivet Natumanya Bridget of St Mark’s College Namagoma claimed the bronze medal.
Fairway Team Quarter-finals Produce Upsets
The Fairway Team competition witnessed several surprise results as schools battled for places in the semi-finals.
St Mark’s College Namagoma stunned Luzira Secondary School with a dominant 3-0 victory, while Airforce Secondary School eliminated defending champions Mengo Secondary School 2-1.
Elsewhere, Mbarara High School caused one of the biggest upsets of the day by defeating Standard High School Zzana 2-1 to reach their first-ever USSSA Ball Games II woodball semi-final.
The championship continues on Wednesday, with several finals expected to determine this year’s national champions.
Selected ResultsBoys’ Stroke SinglesMark Muwanguzi Mufuwa (Airforce SS) – 44 strokesAksam Ssewante (Kyamate SS) – 46 strokesKato Shanion (Jinja College) – 47 strokesGirls’ Stroke SinglesEmilly Tasumba (Luzira SS) – 49 strokesPrecious Priscilla Namubiru (St Joseph’s SS Naggalama) – 50 strokesOlivet Natumanya Bridget (St Mark’s College Namagoma)Fairway Team Quarter-finalsSt Joseph’s SS Naggalama 2-1 Kitagata SSIganga SS 2-1 Trinity College NabbingoSt Mark’s College Namagoma 3-0 Luzira SSMengo SS 3-0 Kyamate SSNtare School 2-1 St Mark’s College NamagomaAirforce SS 2-1 St Mary’s College KitovuLuzira SS 2-1 Mengo SSMbarara High School 2-1 Standard High School Zzana
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