Kabalega, St Kagwa among schools awarded 2027 USSSA hosting rights
By Kayiira Jackson
Kabalega Secondary School, St Kagwa High School, Nyakasura School, Janan Secondary School Bombo and Seroma Christian High School have been awarded hosting rights for the 2027 Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) National Championships.
The hosting rights, announced by USSSA president Justus Mugisha on Thursday, October 29, 2026, will see the schools stage five major national competitions, with several institutions set to host the respective championships for the first time.
Kabalega Secondary School will host the National Football Boys Championship, marking its return as host after 12 years, while St Kagwa High School and Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School will jointly host National Ball Games I and Athletics.
Nyakasura School will stage Ball Games II alongside Kyebambe, while Janan Secondary School Bombo will co-host the Elite Games with Standard High School Zzana, Ndejje Campus for the second consecutive time. Seroma Christian High School has been selected to host the National Swimming Championship for the fourth time in a row.
The awards followed a bidding process involving applications from prospective schools which were over 50, inspections by a joint team of Ministry of Education and Sports and USSSA officials, and formal presentations before a joint panel.
According to Mugisha, the final decisions were based on four key principles:
“The awarding was made basing on four principles which include; regional rotation, the quality of facilities, the anticipated impact of hosting on schools and their surrounding communities, and the additional services promised by bidders.” Said USSSA president Justus Mugisha.
Standby hosts named
To ensure continuity in case the selected schools fail to meet the required standards, USSSA has also appointed standby hosts for three championships.
Seroma Christian High School in Mukono will serve as the standby host for Ball Games I, while Mbarara High School has been designated as the alternative venue for the National Football Boys Championship.
St Mary’s College Rushoroza will be on standby for Ball Games II.
The standby arrangements are intended to ensure that the competitions proceed as planned should any of the main hosts fail to satisfy the association’s requirements.
January inspection to determine final hosts
Despite the awards, the selected schools must pass a final compliance inspection scheduled for January 2027 to confirm their hosting status.
Mugisha warned that the inspection would be a pass-or-fail exercise, with standby schools activated if the main hosts fail to meet the stipulated standards.
The non-negotiable requirements include well-maintained green pitches, effective drainage systems, suitable accommodation, adequate security and medical services.
Schools that committed to renovating dormitories, replacing broken windowpanes and clearing bushes around their premises have also been urged to complete the promised improvements before the inspection.
A detailed list of the requirements will be available at the USSSA Secretariat for the selected hosts.
Ministry to introduce binding host agreements
In another measure aimed at strengthening accountability, the Ministry of Education and Sports will issue official host agreements to all main hosts.
The agreements will bind the schools to the facilities and additional services they committed to provide in their bids.
The association said the hosting process considered not only competition facilities but also the potential benefits to schools and host communities, including infrastructure development, renovations, tourism, feeding and entertainment.
Mugisha congratulated the successful bidders and urged schools that missed out on the hosting rights to continue improving their facilities.
He also thanked the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports, the commissioner’s team and the USSSA Executive Committee for overseeing what he described as a transparent process.