Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Buses have been stopped before crossing the Jinja bridge
Search
JINJA
Several Ugandan secondary school sports teams travelling to Morogoro, Tanzania, for the 2026 FEASSA Games have been forced to abandon their journey after police stopped them at the Jinja bridge and arrested multiple drivers.
According to reports from affected schools, officers intercepted the convoys late on Sunday night. The drivers reportedly held valid permits but lacked a newly introduced “badge” — a document issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport intended to certify professional bus drivers. About 20 teams are said to have been prevented from crossing the bridge.
Stranded sportsmen and women at Jinja bridge
Six drivers were arrested and taken into police custody. Some co-drivers reportedly fled the scene. Among the schools affected are Jinja Secondary School (the national Rugby Sevens champions), Jinja Progressive Academy (Futsal champions), Seroma Christian High School, Gombe SS, Nabisunsa, Kyabakadde, Katikamu SDA and Light College Katikamu.
Jinja SS and Jinja Progressive Academy have already been escorted back to school. Students from several teams were left stranded and fatigued before the long journey to Morogoro had properly begun.
Some of arrested drivers bundled on police vehicles
Uganda enters the FEASSA Games as defending champions. The regional competition is being hosted in Morogoro for the first time, requiring teams to travel more than 1,500 kilometres by road. School officials expressed concern that the delays and arrests could severely undermine Uganda’s preparations and medal prospects.
Minister Peter Ogwang flags off team Uganda for FEASSA games
School representatives have called for urgent intervention from education and sports authorities to resolve the documentation issues and allow the teams to continue their journey.
