Sports Desk
The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) has extended the 2026 Elite Games by two weeks following the government’s extension of the opening of Term One by a week.
According to USSSA CEO Chris Mugisha, the games, which were scheduled to run from February 13 to 16, will now take place from February 26 to March 1, with the hosting venue, Janan Secondary School in Bombo, remaining unchanged.
The Ministry of Education and Sports rescheduled the beginning of Term One for the 2026 academic year to January 10 from January 2, prompting USSSA to also reschedule the 2026 season curtain-raiser games.
“Our activity calendar moves in line with the Ministry of Education and Sports school schedule, and for that reason, we confirm that the new dates for the Elite Secondary School Games will be from February 26 to March 1, 2026. This change stems from the adjustment of the start of the new term by the ministry,” Mugisha said.
USSSA CEO, Christopher Mugisha Banage
The Elite Games are secondary school competitions that feature the top eight school teams from the previous year’s national games in selected disciplines of netball, volleyball, football, basketball, and handball. They are organised as a curtain-raiser for the new season competitions.
After USSSA announced the revised games schedule, some schools embarked on early preparations, not only for the new season but also to ensure readiness for the campaign starting with the Elite Games.
“We are okay with the rescheduling of the games. It gives us more time to prepare, and because it is a two-week period after school opening, it will give a chance for new talents to also get on board,” said St Elizabeth Girls Volleyball Team Manager William Rwamihambo.
Other school team officials have welcomed the rescheduling, saying it gives them time for more thorough preparations. “It has always been difficult logistically for most qualified teams to take part in these games, especially when they are scheduled before or immediately after the opening of schools. However, these dates are surely convenient for us and most other schools to participate.”
This will be the seventh time USSSA is organising these games, having deemed it sportingly appropriate to help school teams prepare for the new school sports season by testing their strengths through this curtain-raiser competition at the beginning of every Term One.
Torch Media Africa
