Defending champions Kawempe Muslim Secondary School wasted no time reasserting their authority, opening their UMEA Solidarity Games 2026 girls’ football campaign with a composed and clinical 3-0 victory over Kakungulu Memorial Secondary School in Mbale.
At the Mbale Secondary School playground on Saturday, the Kampala giants turned the contest into a one-sided affair before the interval.
Forward Belinda Hope Nabawanuka set the tone with a sharp brace, showcasing both movement and finishing, while Proscovia Namataka added a third to cap a dominant first-half display that ultimately settled the encounter.
The result extends Kawempe Muslim’s aura as the team to beat, having lifted the previous six titles, including the last edition in Kayunga, and signals a side intent on controlling proceedings rather than merely defending their crown.
Focus now shifts to a decisive Group A showdown against Masaka Secondary School, with top spot on the line in a tightly structured three-team group.
The fixture is expected to provide a clearer measure of Kawempe’s credentials against one of the competition’s more resilient sides.
Elsewhere, hosts Nkoma Secondary School capitalised on home advantage to book their place in the semifinals, edging Kawempe Muslim Secondary School B 1-0 in a finely balanced contest.
The narrow victory confirmed Nkoma’s progression and tightened the stakes for Kawempe’s second team.
Kawempe Muslim SS B, who had earlier impressed with a 3-0 win over Kinaawa High School, now face a high-pressure final group fixture against Kigumba Secondary School, where only victory will keep their semifinal hopes alive.
