By Weswa Ronnie
MANAFWA
St. Joseph Buyaga clinched the Bugisu Zone Secondary Schools football title after a narrow 1–0 victory over Nkoma SS in a tense final played on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Butiru Model Playground in Manafwa District.
While the win secured Buyaga’s place at the national level, the result has quickly drawn scrutiny. Reports emerging after the final indicate that a joint petition has been lodged against the team, with allegations that they fielded ineligible players whose identities were allegedly concealed during the tournament.
The competition, hosted by Butiru Christian Comprehensive Secondary School, brought together 26 boys’ teams from across Bugisu Zone, including Mbale City, Mbale District, Manafwa, Bududa, Sironko, and Bulambuli. Originally scheduled to conclude on Sunday, April 12, the tournament was extended by a day due to time spent resolving administrative issues.
Despite the controversy, St. Joseph Buyaga, Nkoma SS, and Mbale Progressive have been selected to represent the region at the national championships.
In the girls’ category, Bugisu High School emerged champions after defeating Bubiita Seed School 1–0. Both finalists will represent the zone at the national games set for Mukono from April 29 to May 9.
Nkoma SS, although falling short in football, made a strong statement in other disciplines, winning trophies in Rugby 15s and Table Tennis (both boys and girls).
As the dust settles, attention now turns to the petition against St. Joseph Buyaga, which could potentially alter the final standings if upheld.
Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira, the Chairperson of Bugisu Zone Secondary School Sports Association congratulated the two schools saying they are going to represent the Bugisu region in Lira for national secondary school boys games and in Mukono for girls.
