USSSA President Justus Mugisha led the charge at the official opening of the 2025 USSSA Ball Games in Bukedea on Wednesday, commending the unprecedented turnout and affirming the federation’s commitment to fairness and inclusion in school sports.
Speaking during the ceremony at Bukedea Comprehensive School Stadium, Mugisha expressed gratitude to the host institution for what he described as exceptional preparations.
He acknowledged the school’s previous success in hosting the FEASSA Games and praised the quality of its facilities. “We’re here again because of the trust we have in Bukedea,” he said.
Highlighting a new milestone, Mugisha announced that this year’s edition has attracted the highest number of participants in the history of the Ball Games.
“We have the highest number of participants so far, thus fulfilling our dream of giving every student a chance to participate in sports—all the way from the district level to the national stage,” he said.
Mugisha reaffirmed the integrity of the competitions, emphasizing that all scores would be determined strictly on the field of play.
“It’s about performance on the pitch, not in tables,” he stressed, underlining the federation’s stance on transparency.
He also thanked the Government of Uganda and the Ministry of Education for their continued financial and logistical support, which has enabled schools across the country to take part in organized sports.
“I thank the government and the Ministry of Education for funding the games,” Mugisha said, noting that the support has been instrumental in expanding access to sports for young Ugandans.
The opening ceremony was also graced by cultural performances, including a traditional dance by the Ibwalet group, and drew an audience of over 7,000 participants.
The games will feature teams in the under-16 and under-20 categories competing across various disciplines over the coming days.
