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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Kayiira Jackson\u00a0
\nDefending champions Greenlight Islamic SS made a strong statement on the opening day of the UMEA Solidarity Games, overcoming Namagabi SS 17-11 in a tightly contested Group A clash at Nkoma SS in Mbale.
\nThe hosts, Nkoma SS Mbale, are staging this year\u2019s edition, which kicked off with thrilling netball action across multiple courts and delivered a mix of dominant wins and dramatic turnarounds.
\nNamagabi SS, who hosted the previous edition, endured a shaky start after falling to the defending champions in their opener. However, they showed resilience in their second outing, bouncing back to edge Kasana Vocational School 19-16 and revive their Group A hopes.
\nGroup A has already shaped up as one of the most competitive pools, featuring Greenlight Islamic SS, Namagabi SS, Kasana Vocational School, Bugembe Islamic, and Hamdan Girls. Greenlight further stamped their authority with another 17-11 win over Hamdan Girls to take early control of the group.
\nElsewhere, Hamdan Girls had earlier registered the most emphatic victory of the day, thrashing Bugembe Islamic 24-1 in a one-sided encounter.
\nKawanda SS also impressed with back-to-back wins, defeating Bilal Islamic 19-07 before dispatching Kasawo SS 19-05, underlining their credentials as serious contenders.
\nKaddugala SS, last year\u2019s semifinalists, began their campaign in style with a commanding 17-06 win over Kakukugulu Memorial, while Wamatovu SS edged hosts Nkoma SS 15-13 and later secured another victory against Ibn Buz.
\nGombe SS delivered one of the standout performances, hammering Mariam High 21-01, while Kyantamba SS bounced back from an earlier loss to beat Nakaloke 27-08 in dominant fashion.
\nAmity SS and Busiika Muslim shared mixed fortunes, with Amity first cruising past Buziga Islamic 21-09 before falling narrowly 13-11 to Busiika Muslim.
\nWith the opening day producing emphatic wins, surprise results, and early statements from title contenders, the battle for supremacy at the UMEA Solidarity Games is already gathering pace in Mbale.
\nDay one Netball results:\u00a0
\nGreenlight Islamic SS 17-11 Namagabi SS\u00a0
\nBugembe Islamic 1-24 Hamdan Girls\u00a0
\nKibuli SS 16-08 Busiika Muslim\u00a0
\nAmity SS 21-09 Buziga Islamic\u00a0
\nKawanda SS 19-07 Bilal Islamic\u00a0
\nNkoma SS 13-15 Wamatovu SS\u00a0
\nKaddugala SS 17-06 Kakukugulu Memorial\u00a0
\nMasaka SS 05-09 Ibn Buz
\nGreenlight 17-11 Hamdan Girls
\nHamdan Islamic SS 16-13 Kyantamba SS\u00a0
\nKasana Vocational 16-19 Namagabi SS\u00a0
\nSseke 11-13 Gombe SS
\nKasawo SS 05-19 Kawanda SS
\nMasaka SS 09-19 Hamdan Islamic\u00a0
\nGombe SS 21-01 Mariam High\u00a0
\nAmity SS 11-13 Busiika Muslim\u00a0
\nIbn Buz 06-16 Wamatovu SS\u00a0
\nNgando SS 18-09 Kakukugulu\u00a0
\nKyantamba SS 27-08 Nakaloke<\/p>\n