USSSA Ball Games II 2026: Hopeful Future SS, Namagabi SS Arrive in Gulu City Ready for National Showdown
By Mbuga Swaibu
Kayunga District will once again be represented on the national stage after Hopeful Future Secondary School and Namagabi Secondary School safely arrived in Gulu City ahead of the 2026 Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games II National Championship.
The prestigious championship officially got underway on Wednesday, 8th July, with the arrival and registration of participating schools, while serious action is expected to run until 18th July 2026.
Hopeful Future Secondary School will compete in the U20 Netball Championship and the CAF African Schools Football Championship (U15 Boys) Qualifiers, while Namagabi Secondary School will battle for honours in U20 Netball as well as Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball.
A major milestone awaits Hopeful Future Secondary School as this marks the school’s maiden appearance in the CAF African Schools Football Championship Qualifiers. It also becomes the first school from Kayunga District to participate in the continental schools football qualifiers, making history for both the institution and the district.
The school’s partnership with Balamu Community Project is expected to play a significant role in strengthening the team’s preparations as they seek to make a memorable debut on the national stage.
The school will also be hoping to improve on last year’s performance in netball after failing to progress beyond the group stages during the previous edition.
For Namagabi Secondary School, confidence remains high following encouraging performances in last year’s championship. The school finished among the top eight netball schools in Uganda, while their volleyball teams also gained valuable national exposure, finishing 11th in the Boys’ category and 21st in the Girls’ category.
During this year’s Mukono Zone qualifiers, Namagabi’s Girls’ Volleyball team reached the final before narrowly losing to Seroma Christian High School, while the Boys’ team secured third place to qualify for the national championship.
The official draws for all disciplines will be conducted on Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Secondary School, Gulu, the host venue for this year’s championship.
The 2026 edition promises to be one of the biggest school sporting events ever organized in Uganda, bringing together approximately 12,000 student-athletes competing in 27 sporting disciplines.
This year’s games will also witness the introduction of five new sports—KhoKho, Kabaddi, Golf, Darts, and Pickleball—further expanding the competition and providing more opportunities for young talent.
Other disciplines on the programme include U17 Football and Basketball, Basketball 3×3, DanceSport, Woodball, U14 CAF Football, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Lacrosse, Chess, Ludo, Scrabble, Volleyball, Netball, Cricket, Handball, Athletics & Cross Country, Rugby 7s, Futsal, Baseball, Softball, and Baseball 5, making the championship one of the most diverse school sporting events on the continent.
With more than 12,000 participants expected to compete over the ten-day championship, schools from across Uganda will be aiming for national glory while showcasing the country’s growing sporting talent.
For Kayunga’s representatives, the championship presents an opportunity not only to compete for medals but also to elevate the district’s reputation in school sports, with Hopeful Future seeking to make history in football and Namagabi determined to build on its impressive performances from previous editions.
The championship will conclude on Saturday, 18th July 2026, when all participating schools depart Gulu City after ten days of elite school sports competition.