Buyende, Uganda: Buyende District has selected its primary school football team that will represent the district at the 2026 National Kids Soccer Festival, scheduled to take place on August 24 in Mubende District.
The selection exercise was conducted on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Kinaitakali Primary School, bringing together talented young footballers from 11 sub-counties across the district. The final squad comprises players in the Under-14 and Under-12 categories.
The event was presided over by Buyende District Woman Member of Parliament Sarah Hassan Namulondo Owekitambala, who applauded the efforts of teachers, sports officials and parents in nurturing young talent.
She encouraged the selected players to compete with discipline and determination and to represent Buyende with pride at the national festival.
“Thank you for preparing our children. Go to Mubende and represent Buyende well. We believe you will do us proud,” Namulondo said.
Buyende District Sports Officer John Musana described the selection exercise as highly competitive, saying it reflected the steady growth of school sports across the district.
He noted that the participation of pupils from all the 11 sub-counties demonstrates increasing investment in sports development and talent identification at grassroots level.
“We have selected the district team from 11 sub-counties. This shows that there has been development of sports in the district. We have also introduced a new game called Coco Sport where both girls and boys participated,” Musana said.
Musana commended the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the District Education Department for providing financial support that has enabled Buyende to consistently participate in national school competitions since he assumed office.
He also recognized parents for encouraging and supporting their children to pursue sporting talent alongside their education.
Representing the Chief Administrative Officer, District Planner Gideon Mugulusi urged sports administrators to maintain comprehensive records of pupils participating in school sports to enable continuous monitoring and talent development.
“I ask the Sports Officer to always keep records of the pupils who participate in sports such that they can be followed in future. I also ask teachers to develop both sports and academics so as to keep a legacy,” Mugulusi said.
District education officials said participation in the National Kids Soccer Festival provides young learners with an opportunity to gain exposure, develop their football abilities and be identified for future talent development programmes.
They added that national competitions also promote discipline, teamwork, unity and confidence among learners while complementing classroom learning.
The Buyende contingent is expected to travel to Mubende ahead of the tournament, where it will compete against district teams from across Uganda.
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