USSSA Adds Seven New Sports to 2026 Schools Calendar

The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) has added seven new sports to its 2026 activity calendar, significantly expanding opportunities for both boys and girls as it seeks to widen student participation across the country.

The newly introduced disciplines are cricket, baseball, softball, golf, kabaddi, kho kho, and pickleball. All the sports will be open to both boys and girls, marking one of the most significant expansions of the schools sports program in recent years.

USSSA President Justus Mugisha said the move was driven by the need to go beyond traditional games and reach a broader spectrum of students in schools nationwide.

“We have expanded the number of games by adding seven more disciplines to increase participation and attract all students to sports activities. This will help us identify and nurture more talent across the country,” Mugisha said.

In addition to the expanded calendar, the association announced a major infrastructure milestone after acquiring more than 80 acres of land in Mbarara City. The land will be used to construct USSSA’s permanent headquarters and offices, a development officials say will strengthen long-term planning, administration, and service delivery.

The 2026 schools sports season will officially get underway with the Elite Secondary Schools Games, scheduled to take place from February 26 to March 1. The event will be hosted by Janan Secondary School in Bombo and will also serve as the launch of the expanded sports calendar.

The expansion underscores USSSA’s commitment to inclusive sports development and its ongoing efforts to create more pathways for young talent across Uganda