Greenlight Shine Bright as Namagabi Bounce Back on Day One of UMEA Netball Games

By Kayiira Jackson 

Defending champions Greenlight Islamic SS made a strong statement on the opening day of the UMEA Solidarity Games, overcoming Namagabi SS 17-11 in a tightly contested Group A clash at Nkoma SS in Mbale.

The hosts, Nkoma SS Mbale, are staging this year’s edition, which kicked off with thrilling netball action across multiple courts and delivered a mix of dominant wins and dramatic turnarounds.

Namagabi SS, who hosted the previous edition, endured a shaky start after falling to the defending champions in their opener. However, they showed resilience in their second outing, bouncing back to edge Kasana Vocational School 19-16 and revive their Group A hopes.

Group A has already shaped up as one of the most competitive pools, featuring Greenlight Islamic SS, Namagabi SS, Kasana Vocational School, Bugembe Islamic, and Hamdan Girls. Greenlight further stamped their authority with another 17-11 win over Hamdan Girls to take early control of the group.

Elsewhere, Hamdan Girls had earlier registered the most emphatic victory of the day, thrashing Bugembe Islamic 24-1 in a one-sided encounter.

Kawanda SS also impressed with back-to-back wins, defeating Bilal Islamic 19-07 before dispatching Kasawo SS 19-05, underlining their credentials as serious contenders.

Kaddugala SS, last year’s semifinalists, began their campaign in style with a commanding 17-06 win over Kakukugulu Memorial, while Wamatovu SS edged hosts Nkoma SS 15-13 and later secured another victory against Ibn Buz.

Gombe SS delivered one of the standout performances, hammering Mariam High 21-01, while Kyantamba SS bounced back from an earlier loss to beat Nakaloke 27-08 in dominant fashion.

Amity SS and Busiika Muslim shared mixed fortunes, with Amity first cruising past Buziga Islamic 21-09 before falling narrowly 13-11 to Busiika Muslim.

With the opening day producing emphatic wins, surprise results, and early statements from title contenders, the battle for supremacy at the UMEA Solidarity Games is already gathering pace in Mbale.

Day one Netball results: 

Greenlight Islamic SS 17-11 Namagabi SS 

Bugembe Islamic 1-24 Hamdan Girls 

Kibuli SS 16-08 Busiika Muslim 

Amity SS 21-09 Buziga Islamic 

Kawanda SS 19-07 Bilal Islamic 

Nkoma SS 13-15 Wamatovu SS 

Kaddugala SS 17-06 Kakukugulu Memorial 

Masaka SS 05-09 Ibn Buz

Greenlight 17-11 Hamdan Girls

Hamdan Islamic SS 16-13 Kyantamba SS 

Kasana Vocational 16-19 Namagabi SS 

Sseke 11-13 Gombe SS

Kasawo SS 05-19 Kawanda SS

Masaka SS 09-19 Hamdan Islamic 

Gombe SS 21-01 Mariam High 

Amity SS 11-13 Busiika Muslim 

Ibn Buz 06-16 Wamatovu SS 

Ngando SS 18-09 Kakukugulu 

Kyantamba SS 27-08 Nakaloke