Morogoro, Tanzania – Uganda continued to strengthen its profile in regional sports diplomacy after a strong performance at the 23rd East African Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSA) Games, held in Morogoro, Tanzania, where the country finished second in the overall medal standings.

Team Uganda secured 19 gold medals across the Games, just one gold medal behind regional neighbours Kenya, which topped the standings with 20 gold medals. The strong performance reflected Uganda’s growing sporting talent among young people while providing an important platform for regional integration and cultural exchange among East African countries.

In girls’ football, Uganda registered an impressive podium sweep, with Rines Secondary School emerging champions, Amus College finishing runners-up and Boni Consilii Girls Vocational Secondary School taking the bronze medal. The achievement demonstrated the depth of talent in Ugandan school sports and further enhanced the country’s visibility in regional sporting competitions.

Team Uganda participated with a strong and diverse delegation drawn from different parts of the country. The delegation comprised 127 teams from 67 schools, including secondary schools, primary schools and Special Needs Education (SNE) institutions. In total, Uganda was represented by 1,536 student participants, comprising 1,304 secondary school students, 160 primary pupils and 72 SNE participants, alongside coaches, team officials and administrators.

Uganda’s performance was spread across a wide range of sporting disciplines, demonstrating the country’s depth of talent beyond traditional team sports. St. Mary’s Kitende and Rines Secondary School secured gold medals in boys’ and girls’ football respectively, while Kitende also emerged victorious in girls’ 5×5 basketball and netball.

Seroma Christian High School claimed gold in girls’ 3×3 basketball, Panyadoli triumphed in girls’ softball, Namugongo Vocational School won boys’ volleyball, while Gombe Secondary School secured gold in girls’ handball.

Ugandan schools also registered strong performances in individual and racket sports. Team Uganda won both the boys’ and girls’ badminton and swimming titles, while Kibuli Secondary School secured both boys’ and girls’ table tennis titles. Kibuli Secondary School also won the boys’ lawn tennis competition. In addition to the tradition of medals and sporting achievements, Uganda’s participation in the FEASSA Games provided an important platform for advancing sports diplomacy, regional integration and people-to-people relations across East Africa. The Games brought together young athletes, coaches, teachers and education officials, fostering cultural exchange, friendship, mutual understanding and shared experiences.

Uganda’s strong performance further projected its sporting talent and national image, with young athletes serving as ambassadors and building lasting connections with their regional peers. The participation also reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting inclusivity and peaceful coexistence, including through the participation of primary schools and Special Needs Education institutions.