Ngora, Uganda: St. Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende and Buddo SS will face off in the 2025 USSSA Boys’ U-20 National Football Championship final after contrasting semi-final victories that confirmed yet another classic showdown between Uganda’s most dominant secondary school football giants.
Kitende booked their place after a dramatic and chaotic semifinal against Jinja Progressive Academy (JIPRA) ended prematurely.
The match was abandoned in the 39th minute after JIPRA fans stormed the pitch, protesting a disallowed equalizer when the assistant referee ruled their goal offside, leading to the violent scenes.
Tournament organizers, USSSA, later issued a statement expelling JIPRA on grounds that it had fielded two ineligible players: Isabirye Adrian and Ntege Musa, who had each accumulated two yellow cards, and for violent conduct.
The expulsion meant Kitende got the semifinal victory, setting up a renewed Wakiso derby with Buddo SS, who earlier on Tuesday edged Bukedea Comprehensive School 5-4 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in regulation time.
Buddo are coached by former Uganda Cranes international Richard Malinga and are targeting another crown to add to their growing trophy cabinet, but their meeting with Kitende will reignite one of the fiercest rivalries in Ugandan school football, a fixture that has produced national team prospects over the years.
Over 1,600 players from 64 schools took part in this year’s tournament hosted by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) at Ngora High School in Eastern Uganda.
The final will be played tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14, at Ngora High School Playground.
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