Bukedea says goodbye to FEASSSA Games

The 21st edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games officially climaxed at Bukedea Comprehensive Stadium, Bukedea District on Monday.

Uganda managed to successfully defend the overall crown with an impressive performance in the 11-day championship co-hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive and Amus College Schools in Bukedea district in eastern Uganda.

The championship that ran from August 16 to 26 saw the Uganda Secondary schools’ national champions retained unchallenged at the regional level, with Uganda collecting a whopping 38 gold medals, compared to the rivals Kenya, who came second on 28, with Rwanda becoming 3rd with 5 medals as Burundi and Tanzania collected 3 medals each at the championship that attracted five nations.

By the total collections, Uganda came out with 13 Gold, 14 Silver, and 11 bronze for a total of 38 medals, Kenya won 11 Gold, 11 Silver, and 6 bronze for 28 medals, Rwanda had 1 Gold,1 Silver, and 3 Bronze for 5 medals, Burundi had 1 Gold, zero Silver and 3 bronze accumulating to 3 medals while Tanzania got 0 Gold, 0 Silver and 2 Bronze medals totaling to 3 medals.

Uganda nearly won every discipline with Amus College School and St Noa Girls winning the boys and girls football, St Mary’s Kitende Netball, Kibulu SS lifting the girls’ handball and table tennis trophies, while Mbogo SS were winners of boys' table tennis

The other categories such as handball, Volleyball, and basketball went to Adeki of Rwanda, Kesingoni (Kenya), Lazei (Burundi), and Butere (Kenya) respectively.

The championship that attracted 3526 athletes from Uganda (1,590) Kenya (1,300), Rwanda (162) Tanzania (443), and Burundi (31) was closed by Uganda’s Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang who encouraged East African nations to stop using unwanted athletes in the FEASSSA Games.

According to Ogwang, sports promote cultural exchange values critical to human development.

"Thank all participating countries for giving every child the right to education and the right to healthy living. “Sports brings East Africa community together, sharing experiences, learning from each other, hard work and inclusive sports for both boys and girls as well as the physically handicapped players,” said Ogwang.

 FEASSA GAMES CHAMPIONS IN EACH CATEGORY

Football (boys)

Amus college school (Ug)

Football (Girls)

St Noa Girls SS (Ug)

Table tennis (Boys)

Mbogo Mixed SS (Ug)

Table tennis (Girls)

Kibulu SS (Ug)

Handball (Girls)

Kibuli SS (Ug)

Handball (Boys)

Adeki SS (Rwanda)

Volleyball (Girls)

Kesingoni SS (Kenya)

Volleyball (Boys)

Lazei SS (Burundi)

Netball

St Mary’s Kitende (Ug)

Basketball (Girls)

Butere (Kenya)

Hockey (Boys)

Musingu SS ( Kenya)

Overall

Secondary schools

Uganda 38 medals

Primary schools

Uganda 11 medals