Bukedea Comprehensive Secondary School have stepped up their preparations ahead of the 2026 Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) National Boys’ Football Championship, delivering a series of competitive performances that underline their growing pedigree on the national stage.
With the tournament set to run from 10th to 19th May in Lira at Lira Town College, Bukedea have engaged in high-level friendlies to sharpen their squad and tactical cohesion.
Their most recent outing saw them edge Kampala Zone champions Lubiri Secondary School 1-0 at the Lubiri Grounds on a rain-soaked Saturday morning, a result that further reinforced their readiness for the upcoming showpiece.
Patrick Ssenkusu’s well-struck second-half free kick proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter, highlighting Bukedea’s efficiency in crucial moments.
The victory followed a demanding fixture on Friday, where they fell 2-1 to Uganda’s U-17 national team, the Cubs, at FUFA Technical Centre, Kadiba.
Yusuf Ssenyonga and an own goal by Ryan Osinya secured the win for the Cubs, while Halid Asega netted Bukedea’s consolation.
Earlier, Bukedea had showcased their attacking prowess in an international friendly, dispatching Kenya’s Kakamega High School 2-0 courtesy of goals from Derrick Ssozi and Patrick Mutebi.
The Teso-based side will next face St. Mark High School, champions of the Greater Mukono Zone, in Kayunga as they conclude their preparatory matches.
Despite narrowly missing out on silverware at both the Bukedea District and Teso Zonal finals—losing to Amus College on both occasions—Bukedea remain a formidable force.
They are yet to clinch a national boys’ football title, but their credentials were emphatically boosted last year when they captured the 2025 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) championship.
In that historic triumph, Bukedea defeated hosts Musingu Scorpions 2-1 in the final. After falling behind to an early strike from Shaban Quimba, they mounted a spirited comeback led by a brace from Form One sensation Hamisi Businge, sealing their first-ever regional crown in only their second appearance.
With momentum building and confidence high, Bukedea will be keen to translate their regional success onto the national stage in Lira.
Meanwhile, attention will also turn to the 2026 FEASSA Games scheduled for August in Morogoro, Tanzania, where they will aim to defend their title.
