USSSA Ball Games II 2026: Nabirye, Namutebi and Hope Inspire Kawempe Muslim to Semi-finals

By Kayiira Jackson 

Defending giants Kawempe Muslim Secondary School underlined their title credentials after cruising into the semi-finals of the USSSA Ball Games II U17 Girls Football Championship with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Highways SS on Tuesday at St. Peter’s Layibi Playground in Gulu.

After a goalless opening half, Kawempe shifted gears in the second period to overwhelm their opponents with an impressive attacking display.

Tournament top performer Namutebi Joweria broke the deadlock with a simple tap-in after an excellent cutback from Shadia Nabirye, taking her tournament tally to four goals.

Moments later, Belinda Hope Nabawanuka doubled the advantage after reacting quickest to convert a rebound following Nabirye’s powerful effort that had been parried by the goalkeeper.

Nabirye then crowned an outstanding performance with a brilliant solo goal, weaving past the Highways defence and goalkeeper before finishing calmly to also move to four goals in the competition.

Earlier in the day, Kawempe Muslim had comfortably dispatched Giants Secondary School 4-0 in the Round of 16 at Daniel Comboni Vocational Institute Playground. Goals from Yusra Nambooze, Belinda Hope Nabawanuka, Shadia Nabirye and Nambirige Angel sealed another dominant victory and booked their place in the last eight.

The comprehensive victories further cement Kawempe Muslim’s status as one of the favourites for this year’s championship as they continue to impress with free-flowing attacking football and defensive solidity.

Kawempe Muslim will now face Bugisu High School in Wednesday’s semi-final scheduled for 10:00 am at Daniel Comboni Vocational Institute Playground. Bugisu reached the last four after edging St. Mary’s Assumpta 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the quarter-finals.

The other semi-final will pit Masaka Secondary School against Bwizi Seed Secondary School after both sides negotiated difficult quarter-final encounters to keep their title hopes alive.

Girls Football

Round of 16

Kawempe Muslim SS 4-0 Giants SS

Masaka SS 1(5)-1(4) Tororo Girls School (Masaka won on penalties)

Highways SS 0(5)-0(4) Kiryandongo SS (Highways won on penalties)

Kibingo Girls School 1-0 Butiru Christian Comprehensive SS

St. Mary’s Assumpta 2-0 Sacred Heart SS

Panyadoli Self Help SS 2-0 Mt. Zion SS

Bugisu High School 1-0 Kongunga

Kashenshero Girls SS 1-0 Bwizi Seed SS

Classification

Bweranyange Girls SS 4-0 Trinity College Nabbingo

Kyabugambi SS 1-0 Nakanyonyi Girls School

St. Catherine Girls SS 1-0 Kasenyi SS

Wampewo Ntake SS 1-0 Apopong Seed SS

Quarter-finals

Kawempe Muslim SS 3-0 Highways SS

Masaka SS 1(5)-1(3) Kibingo Girls School (Masaka won on penalties)

Bugisu High School 1(4)-1(3) St. Mary’s Assumpta (Bugisu won on penalties)

Bwizi Seed SS 2-0 Panyadoli Self Help SS

Classification (9th–16th)

Giants SS 0(3)-0(2) Kiryandongo SS (Giants won on penalties)

Butiru Christian SS 2-0 Tororo Girls School

Konkunga 3-0 Sacred Heart SS

Mt. Zion SS 3-0 Kashenshero Girls SS

Semi-final Fixtures (Wednesday)

Kawempe Muslim SS vs Bugisu High School (10:00 am, Daniel Comboni Vocational Institute Playground)

Masaka SS vs Bwizi Seed SS

Classification (5th–8th Fixtures)

Highways SS vs St. Mary’s Assumpta

Kibingo Girls School vs Panyadoli Self Help SS

Boys Football

Round of 16

Greenlight Islamic SS 0(13)-0(12) Kyadondo Secondary School (Greenlight won on penalties)

St. Henry’s College Kitovu 1-0 Lubiri Secondary School

Bukomansimbi SS 1-0 Kitara Secondary School

Stahiza 2-1 St. Charles SS Bujjuko

Seroma Christian HS 1(3)-1(1) Bugisu High (Seroma won on penalties)

Buddo SS 2-0 St. Augustine HS

Mutuyera Boys SS 1-0 Jinja Progressive Academy

Paorinher SS 0(4)-0(2) Ibun Baz Boys SS (Paorinher won on penalties)

Classification

Ocer Champion 3-2 Dynamic SS

St. Paul Pauline 2-0 Busabala Islamic

Additional Round of 16

St. Michael International 2-1 Savana School Sheema

Panyandoli SS 5-0 St. Leo’s College

Mayuge SS 1-0 Kigulu College

Kabalega SS 3-0 Kafamba CSS

Kisita Modern SS 1-0 Lira Town SS

St. Kagwa Bushenyi 2-1 Nkoma SS

Quarter-finals

Greenlight Islamic SS 4-0 Bukomansimbi SS

Stahiza 2-1 St. Henry’s College Kitovu

Mutuyera SS 1(9)-1(8) Seroma Christian HS (Mutuyera won on penalties)

Buddo SS 2-0 Paorinher SS

Classification (9th–16th)

Kyadondo Secondary School 3-0 Kitara Secondary School

Lubiri Secondary School 2-0 St. Charles SS Bujjuko

Bugisu High 3-0 Jinja Progressive Academy

St. Augustine HS 3-1 Ibun Baz Boys SS

Classification (17th–24th)

St. Michael International 0(5)-0(4) Ocer Champion (St. Michael won on penalties)

Panyandoli SS 0(4)-0(2) St. Paul Pauline (Panyandoli won on penalties)

Mayuge SS 1-0 Kisita Modern SS

St. Kagwa Bushenyi 2(4)-2(3) Kabalega SS (St. Kagwa Bushenyi won on penalties)

Classification (25th–32nd Fixtures)

Dynamic SS vs Savana School Sheema

Busabala Islamic vs St. Leo’s College

Kigulu College vs Lira Town SS

Kafamba CSS vs Nkoma SS