The rebranded Ankole Cup 2026 will officially kick off on Saturday, 6 June at Bushenyi Main Stadium, with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, confirmed as chief guest.
The opening ceremony promises a full day of action and spectacle. The historic rivalry between St Kaggwa and Nganwa High School will reignite in the first curtain raiser at 1 PM, followed by a symbolic clash between Members of Parliament and the media at 3 PM. The headline fixture comes at 4:30 PM, where hosts Bushenyi District face neighbours Sheema District in a Group A showdown described as a “do-or-die” encounter.
“The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa is confirmed as chief guest as the rebranded Ankole Cup 2026 kicks off in Bushenyi on 6th June. We also expect other leaders, businessmen and many fans,” said Osborne Mushaabe, chairperson of the local organising committee.
The tournament, now expanded to 13 districts, is structured into four groups:
– Group A: Bushenyi, Sheema, Ntungamo
– Group B: Kazo, Ibanda, Kiruhura
– Group C: Isingiro, Rwampara, Mbarara City, Kashari
– Group D: Buhweju, Rubirizi, Mitooma
A total of 43 matches will be played, spanning group stages, two-legged quarter-finals and semi-finals, before the grand finale on Sunday, 16 August 2026 at Kabwohe Stadium.
Each district will register 25 players, with 20 required to be natives of the district and five allowed from superior leagues. This format has consistently drawn national team stars and top-division talent, making the Ankole Cup a vital platform for entertainment, unity, and talent discovery across the region.
The 2026 edition is expected to further cement the Cup’s reputation as a cultural and sporting festival, blending fierce local rivalries with national attention.
