Mbale City, Uganda: Gombe Secondary School delivered a commanding performance to emerge overall champions of the 2026 UMEA Solidarity Games, capping off a vibrant and highly competitive edition that celebrated unity, talent, and growth among young learners.
Gombe topped the medal standings with five gold medals, finishing ahead of Kibuli Secondary School, who secured second place with four gold medals after an impressive showing across indoor disciplines.
The annual games, hosted by Nkoma Secondary School under the theme “Faith, Unity and Excellence through Sports,” attracted 47 schools, 122 teams, and 1,591 students competing in football, netball, volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis, scrabble, and chess—marking one of the biggest editions in the competition’s history.
Patron of the Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA), Prince Dr. Kassim Nakibinge, praised the success of the games while emphasizing the deeper value of participation and unity.
“In these games, participation is the most important aspect and not winning because not everyone can win, but when we get together and know one another, we win in many ways,” Nakibinge said.
He added that the growing numbers reflect the increasing impact of the games on youth development. “Statistically, this year’s participation has been the biggest. These games, bringing a total of 122 teams is a massive achievement,” he noted.
Gombe’s dominance was built on exceptional performances in handball, where they won both the boys’ and girls’ titles, alongside victories in Scrabble and Chess. Their consistency across multiple disciplines ultimately set them apart from the rest of the field.
Kibuli Secondary School also impressed with victories in badminton, table tennis, and chess, showcasing their strength in mind sports, while other schools such as Mbogo High School, Mariam High School, and Namagabi Secondary School posted notable podium finishes.
In football, Kyaddondo Secondary School emerged champions in the boys’ category after edging Masaka Secondary School 1-0, while Kawempe Muslim Secondary School extended their dominance in girls’ football with a 2-0 victory over hosts Nkoma Secondary School to claim their seventh title.
Kawanda Secondary School reclaimed the netball crown, while Kinaawa High School, Mugongo and Mbogo Mixed School continued their strong traditions in girls’ and boys’ volleyball, respectively.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT UMEA GAMES 2026
| Category | Champions | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football Boys | Kyaddondo SS | Masaka SS | Buziga Islamic |
| Football Girls | Kawempe Muslim A | Nkoma SS | Kawempe Muslim B |
| Netball | Kawanda SS | Kadugala SS | Greenlight Islamic |
| Handball Boys | Gombe SS | Kawanda SS | Mbogo Mixed |
| Handball Girls | Gombe SS | Kawanda SS | Kibuli SS |
| Volleyball Boys | Mbogo Mixed | Namagabi SS | Masaka SS |
| Volleyball Girls | Kinaawa HS Mugongo | Namagabi SS | Mbogo High School |
| Badminton Boys | Kibuli SS | Kinaawa HS Kawempe | Kinaawa HS Mugongo |
| Badminton Girls | Mbogo High School | Mariam High School | Kinaawa HS Mugongo |
| Table Tennis Boys | Kibuli SS | Ubuntu Hill | Nkoma SS |
| Table Tennis Girls | Kibuli SS | Mbogo High School | Mbogo Mixed |
| Chess Boys | Kibuli SS | Gombe SS | Masaka SS |
| Chess Girls | Gombe SS | Nabisunsa Girls | Kibuli SS |
| Scrabble Boys | Gombe SS | Kisaasi Muslim | — |
| Scrabble Girls | Gombe SS | Kisaasi Muslim | — |
The 2026 edition not only highlighted sporting excellence but also reinforced the role of school competitions in nurturing discipline, teamwork, and national unity among Uganda’s youth.
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