USSSA Elections 2026: Muhumuza Sets Sights on New Mandate After Mukono Zone Re-election
By Mbuga Swaibu
Richard Muhumuza has been re-elected as Chairman of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Mukono Zone, earning a second term in office following the zonal elections held on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The elections, conducted at the Mukono Municipal Council headquarters, ushered in a new executive committee that will oversee the affairs of school sports in the zone for the 2026–2030 term.
Muhumuza, who first assumed office after succeeding Fred Balenzi, retained the confidence of delegates and will now lead the zone into another four-year term with an ambitious agenda focused on expanding participation and improving competitive standards.
Speaking after the elections, the newly elected leadership identified weekend leagues as one of its key priorities. The committee believes regular competitions outside the major championships will offer more students the opportunity to actively participate in sports while enhancing talent identification and development across the zone.
Athletics has also been earmarked as a major area of focus during the new term. The executive intends to strengthen the discipline through better organization and increased participation, with the aim of producing more athletes capable of competing at national and regional level.
The committee further pledged to revive participation from Buvuma District, which has been largely inactive in USSSA activities over the years. To achieve this, the leadership plans to conduct sensitization visits to schools across the island district to encourage their involvement in zonal competitions.
Beyond increasing participation, the executive is determined to improve the performance of Mukono schools on the national and regional stage.
“Our objective is to ensure that schools from Mukono not only perform well at the USSSA National Championships but also make a strong impact whenever they qualify for the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games,” Muhumuza noted.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Muhumuza and his team begin their new mandate with the task of building on the progress registered during the previous term.
One of the administration’s biggest achievements has been the steady growth in mass participation, with more schools qualifying for zonal championships through a structured qualification system aligned with the USSSA vision of promoting sports development in schools.
The zone also witnessed the return of football glory when St. Julian High School Seeta lifted the 2024 USSSA National Boys Football Championship, ending a 22-year wait for the prestigious title to return to the region.
Mukono’s success has extended beyond football. In 2025, Hamdan Islamic Secondary School qualified for the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Netball Championship, becoming the first school from the zone to reach the regional tournament since Dynamic Secondary School Ssonde represented Uganda in Nakuru, Kenya, in 2010.
Schools from the zone have also enjoyed success in volleyball, rugby, handball and beach soccer. Earlier this year, Mukono Kings High School were crowned champions of the USSSA U20 Boys Beach Soccer Championship in Gulu, further underlining the region’s growing competitiveness across different sporting disciplines.
With a renewed mandate, the executive hopes to consolidate these achievements while creating more opportunities for schools and student-athletes to excel both nationally and across East Africa.
Mukono Zone Executive Committee (2026–2030)
Chairman: Richard Muhumuza
Vice Chairman: Farouk Zirabamuzaale
General Secretary: Wilberforce Sserugo
Assistant General Secretary: Shaddrack Kalemba Nsombya
Treasurer: Vincent Sserunkuma
Organizing Secretary: Benard Martin Okoth
Women’s Representative: Hajjarah Nansamba
Committee Members: Jacklyn Katusabe, Geoffrey Namisi and Paul Lule
Ex-Officio (ASSHU): Stephen Kitooke
Wilberforce Sserugo replaces Stephen Omondi as General Secretary, while Benard Martin Okoth succeeds Ismail Ssewaya Miti as Organizing Secretary. Hajjarah Nansamba takes over from Jacklyn Katusabe, who remains on the executive committee as an ordinary member.
The newly elected leadership will serve until 2030, with expectations high that Mukono Zone will continue its upward trajectory in school sports through increased participation, improved competitions and sustained excellence at both the national and East African levels.