CAF U-15 Schools Qualifiers: St Mary’s Kitende Face Buddo as Bukedea Take on Amus in Semi-Finals
By Mbuga Swaibu
The stage is set for two mouthwatering semi-final clashes in the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Uganda Under-15 Qualifiers, with Wakiso and Teso regional rivalries taking centre stage on Wednesday morning in Gulu City.
Defending champions St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende (SMASK) will renew their rivalry with Buddo Secondary School in an all-Wakiso derby, while Bukedea Comprehensive School lock horns with Amus College School in an eagerly anticipated Teso showdown.
The winners will book their places in the final scheduled for Thursday, 16th July, with the tournament champions earning the honour of representing Uganda at the CAF African Schools Championship CECAFA Qualifiers.
Wakiso Derby Reignited
The day’s opening semi-final at 9:00 a.m. will see St Mary’s Kitende take on Buddo Secondary School in a repeat of this year’s Wakiso Zone U-15 final.
On that occasion, Kitende emerged victorious after winning a dramatic penalty shootout following a stalemate in normal time. Both schools will now battle once again, this time with a place in the national final at stake.
St Mary’s Kitende have enjoyed a flawless campaign, topping Group A with a perfect record. They defeated Madinah Islamic Secondary School (1-0), Bulo Parents Secondary School (2-0), and Hopeful Future Secondary School (1-0) before producing another commanding performance to eliminate London College Nansana 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Buddo’s journey has been equally impressive despite suffering an opening 1-0 defeat to Bukedea Comprehensive School. They bounced back with successive 1-0 victories over Lugazi Secondary School and London College Nansana before edging God’s Way High School Maganjo 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals.
Teso Giants Renew Rivalry
The second semi-final promises another exciting contest as Bukedea Comprehensive School face Amus College School in a battle between two of the strongest football schools from the Teso sub-region.
The fixture also revives memories of last year’s semi-final in Tororo, where Amus College School eliminated Bukedea on their way to the final.
Bukedea, however, will draw confidence from having won this year’s district championship and will be eager to settle the score on the national stage.
Amus College School qualified after finishing top of Group C with a perfect record, defeating God’s Way High School Maganjo and St Francis Secondary School Busunju 1-0 before comfortably overcoming Samson Kalibbala Kamya Secondary School 3-0 and St Bernard’s College Kiswera 1-0. They then secured their semi-final berth with a convincing 2-0 victory over Madinah Islamic Secondary School.
Bukedea Comprehensive School topped Group B with seven points, beginning with a 1-0 victory over Buddo Secondary School before drawing 1-1 with Madinah Islamic Secondary School and concluding the group stage with another 1-0 win over Lugazi Secondary School.
Place in CECAFA at Stake
With only one qualification slot available, the stakes could not be higher as the four remaining schools battle for the national title and the opportunity to represent Uganda at the CAF African Schools Championship CECAFA Qualifiers.
Football fans can expect two fiercely contested encounters as regional pride, school rivalry, and continental qualification ambitions collide in Gulu City.