The 2026 Inter Islamic Secondary Schools Association of Uganda (ISSAU) Games officially took shape on Wednesday, June 24, following the release of draws at TopTimes High School in Kyengera, setting up a compelling battle for honours across football and netball.
The draw ceremony was presided over by TopTimes High School head teacher Hamidu Ddumba, who also serves as Chairperson of the ISSAU Sports Committee.
Only football and netball draws were conducted, with arrangements for basketball and volleyball deferred to the teams’ arrival at the competition venue.
Football Draws: Champions Face Stern Test
Defending champions Greenlight Islamic Secondary School–Nansana headline Group A, where they will contend with Rabiha High School, Hamdan Islamic Secondary School, and Ibun Kathir Islamic School–Buwambo.
The group presents a delicate balancing act for the title holders, who will need to assert early dominance to progress.
Group B features a competitive mix led by 2022 champions TopTimes High School, drawn alongside Kisasi Muslim Secondary School, Buziga Islamic Institute, and Kasawo Islamic Secondary School.
Meanwhile, Group C comprises Kampala Islamic Secondary School, Bilal Islamic School–Bwaise, Madinah Islamic Secondary School, and a yet-to-be-confirmed entrant (Late Comer 1).
A total of 11 teams have entered the football competition, distributed across three groups—two groups of four teams and one group of three.
Historically, Madinah Islamic Secondary School and Greenlight Islamic Secondary School share the distinction of being the most successful sides, with two titles each.
TopTimes High School has secured one championship. Madinah triumphed in 2019 and 2024, TopTimes in 2022, while Greenlight claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2025.
Netball: Madinah Eye Continued Supremacy
In netball, nine teams have confirmed participation, with defending champions Madinah Islamic Secondary School placed in Group A alongside Buziga Islamic Institute, Kampala Islamic Secondary School, and Late Comer 3.
Group D brings together Hamdan Islamic Secondary School, Rabiha High School, TopTimes High School, and Late Comer 1 in what promises to be a tightly contested pool.
Last year’s finalists Greenlight Islamic Secondary School are drawn in Group C, where they will face Bilal Islamic School–Bwaise, Ibun Kathir Islamic School, and Late Comer 2.
Netball, now in its fourth edition since debuting in 2023, has largely been dominated by Madinah Islamic, who have won two titles (2023 and 2025), defeating Greenlight in both finals.
Greenlight, however, broke that dominance by clinching the 2024 crown against the same opponents.
Volleyball and Basketball: Anticipation Builds
Volleyball, which has been part of the ISSAU Games since 2023, has seen Qamar High School emerge as the most successful side with titles in 2023 and 2025, while Bugembe Islamic School won the 2024 edition.
Basketball, notably, will be introduced for the first time in this year’s games, marking a significant expansion of the competition’s sporting portfolio.
Host and Schedule
Buziga Islamic and Theological Institute in Ggaba will host the 2026 edition, continuing a rotational hosting tradition that has previously seen Madinah Islamic host three times (2019, 2022, 2025), alongside Hamdan Islamic (2023) and Wakiso Muslim (2024).
The games will commence on Friday, June 26, with indoor disciplines including Quran recitation, poetry, public speaking (in both English and Arabic), Hadith, and quiz competitions.
Outdoor sporting action—featuring football, netball, volleyball, and basketball—will take centre stage on Saturday, June 27, before the event culminates on Sunday, June 28, with finals and a grand awards ceremony at the host venue.
With traditional powerhouses drawn into challenging groups and new disciplines introduced, the 2026 ISSAU Games promise a heightened level of competition and spectacle.
