St Mary’s Kitende were crowned champions of the USSSA Wakiso Boys’ Football Championship after edging Kyadondo SS 2-1 in a tense and ill-tempered final at Wakisha Grounds on Tuesday evening.
The contest built to a dramatic crescendo, with late controversy, a penalty, and two red cards adding to an already charged atmosphere before Kitende ultimately held firm to seal the title.
Kyadondo SS, composed in possession early on, opted to construct play patiently from the back, momentarily stretching Kitende’s midfield structure.
But Daniel Male’s side adjusted swiftly, deploying an aggressive high press that gradually disrupted Kyadondo’s rhythm and forced costly errors.
That tactical shift proved decisive just before halftime. Dennis Kisiriko pounced to win possession high up the pitch and quickly teed up Jordan Tugume, who made no mistake in slotting home the opener to give Kitende the advantage.
After the interval, Kyadondo sought a route back into the game, with the lively and quick-footed Masudi posing the biggest threat.
However, Kitende’s defensive line remained resolute, repelling wave after wave of pressure.
Midway through the second half, Kitende tightened their grip on the contest. Kisiriko turned from provider to scorer, capitalizing on hesitation from goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi to fire home a well-taken finish and double the lead.
The closing stages were anything but routine. Kyadondo were handed a lifeline when they earned a penalty, which Masudi converted with composure to set up a nervy finale.
Tempers then boiled over, culminating in the dismissals of Junior Odinga and Collins Okyata following an altercation, as the match descended into chaos in its dying moments.
Despite the late drama, Kitende held their nerve to see out the result, reaffirming their pedigree and emerging, once again, as Wakiso’s finest.
For over a decade, the Wakiso final has been defined by the Buddo–Kitende rivalry, but Kyadondo Secondary School broke that pattern by eliminating Buddo SS in the semi-finals to reach their first-ever final.
Kyadondo advanced to the final after a goalless semi-final, winning 4-2 on penalties, with goalkeeper Ashiraf Lukyamuzi saving the first two spot-kicks.
Bashir Edema, Danstan Wasswa, Refael Masuudi, and Thomas Ogema converted, while Joseph Kakooza missed.
For Buddo, Abdul Shakur Babi and Ronald Ssegirinya scored, but Ibrahim Wayita and Aaron Zangi Okello failed.
Kitende reached their 10th consecutive final (excluding 2020 and 2021) after a dominant 3-0 win over Aiden College Ndejje, with Jordan Tugume scoring twice from free-kicks and Denis Kisiriko adding a third.
In the third-place playoff, Buddo SS defeated Aiden College Ndejje 1-0 through Ambrose Aboyi.
Six schools—St. Mary’s Kitende, Kyadondo SS, Buddo SS, Aiden College Ndejje, Greenlight Islamic SS Nansana, and Madina Islamic—have qualified to represent Wakiso at the national finals in Lira from May 10–19.
Previous Champions (Wakiso District):
2016: Kitende 1-0 Buddo SS
2017: Kitende 1-0 Buddo SS
2018: Kitende 2-1 Buddo SS
2019: Buddo SS 1 (5-4) 1 Kitende
2022: Buddo SS 0 (5-4) 0 Kitende
2023: Buddo SS 2-1 Kitende
2024: Kitende 1-0 Buddo SS
2025: Kitende 2-0 Buddo SS
2026: Kitende 2-1 Kyaddondo SS
