Uganda will look to defend its Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) title as the 21st edition of the games begins on Friday, August 16, in the Eastern part of the country.
The event will be hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive School, with other games played at Amus College and Teso College.
On Wednesday, Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang officially flagged off the Ugandan delegation, which will be represented by a record-breaking 1,690 participants. This is the highest number of participants a single country has ever sent to the FEASSSA Games.
“We have prepared our athletes very well, from school level to district and national level,” said Justus Mugisha, President of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA).
“We have picked the best of the best to make sure that Team Uganda defends the title they have won for the last three years.”
Mugisha also expressed his pride in Uganda hosting this year’s games and emphasized the efforts made to prepare the sports venues specifically for the event.
“Bukedea now boasts a brand new 10,000-seater stadium, an indoor arena with a 4,000 capacity, and a semi-Olympic swimming pool,” Mugisha noted. “Amus has a stadium with a high-capacity seating, a well-maintained pitch, and a running track. Additionally, we have new grass pitches and basketball courts.”
This year’s FEASSSA Games will feature over twelve disciplines, including football, basketball, lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming, athletics, rugby, volleyball, handball, and hockey. New games and classification matches have also been introduced to the tournament.
FEASSSA is an annual event that brings together students from East African secondary schools to compete in various sports disciplines.
The organizers have implemented strict measures to ensure fair play, with a focus on preventing ineligible players from participating.
“Non-bonafide players are strictly not allowed to play in our games,” Minister Ogwang warned. “In the past, we’ve seen athletes as old as 35 competing against 18-year-olds, which defeats the fair play rule and will not be tolerated in this tournament.”
Minister Ogwang urged the athletes to focus on bringing home gold medals. “As you go to Bukedea, you are not going for merry-making, you are going for a competition. Make sure you bring gold medals to Uganda,” he emphasized.
In the previous FEASSSA Games held in Huye, Rwanda, Uganda claimed a total of 37 medals, including 17 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze. The nation hopes to replicate or surpass that success as they host this year’s event.
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum