USSSA Ball Games II: Balamu Community Project Partners Hopeful Future SS Draw St Mary’s Kitende in CAF U-15 Qualifiers
By Mbuga Swaibu
Kayunga District representatives Hopeful Future Secondary School, in partnership with Balamu Community Project, have been handed a daunting assignment after being drawn alongside East African schools football giants St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende (SMASK) in the CAF African Schools Football Championship (Under-15 Boys) qualifiers.
The draws, conducted on Thursday morning in Gulu City ahead of the championship, placed Hopeful Future SS in a highly competitive Group A, which also features Bulo Parents Secondary School from Butambala District and Madinah Islamic Secondary School from Wakiso District.
Despite the difficult group, Hopeful Future will be determined to make history in their maiden appearance at the CAF U-15 Schools Football qualifiers. The Kayunga-based school, backed by Balamu Community Project, will be targeting a top-two finish to qualify for the knockout stage.
The ultimate objective remains securing the single qualification slot that will see Uganda’s champions represent the country at the CECAFA Schools Championship, where the regional winners will progress to the prestigious CAF African Schools Football Continental Championship.
Elsewhere, Group B comprises Mukono Zone champions Lugazi Secondary School, Buddo Secondary School, Bukedea Comprehensive School, and London College Nansana.
Group C consists of Amus College School, God’s Way High School Matugga, St Francis Secondary School, and St Bernard’s College Kiswera.
In the Girls’ Under-15 category, defending champions Kawempe Muslim Secondary School headline Group A alongside Bukedea Comprehensive School, Standard High School Zzana, and Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga.
Group B features St Noa Girls School Zzana, Amus College School, Lugazi Homestone School, Boni Consili Girls School, and God’s Way High School Matugga.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship qualifiers will officially get underway on Friday, 10th July 2026, at St Joseph’s Layibi Secondary School in Gulu City, where schools from across Uganda will battle for the coveted opportunity to represent the country on the regional stage.
For Hopeful Future Secondary School and Balamu Community Project, the championship presents an opportunity not only to compete against some of the nation’s best football schools but also to showcase the success of their youth football development programme as they seek to leave a lasting impression in their historic debut.