St Leo’s College Kyegobe ends 13-year wait, returns to USSSA football championship
Known as "The Lions" in Kabarole, the team secured their place by finishing as runners-up to Fort Portal SS in the Rwenzori zone qualifiers.
St Leo's Kyegobe returns to USSSA boys' football championship after 13 years
Aloysius Byamukama
Journalist @New Vision
St Leo’s College Kyegobe has returned to the national USSSA boys’ football championship after a 13-year absence.
Known as "The Lions" in Kabarole, the team secured their place by finishing as runners-up to Fort Portal SS in the Rwenzori zone qualifiers. They will now compete in the tournament, which begins on Monday in Ngora.
The school, which won the championship in 1997, holds a notable place in schools’ football history as one of only two institutions—alongside Ngabo Academy—to have claimed the title. However, their journey back to the national stage has been fraught with challenges, with their last appearance dating back to 2013 in Kabale.
School head teacher Trophy Atuhairwe credited the long-awaited success to the patience and hard work of the students. “We are delighted as an institution that our plans and perseverance have paid off. Instead of recruiting talent, we focused on building a team from the ground up, a process that took us six years,” Atuhairwe explained.
Reflecting on the 1997 triumph, he added, “Winning the title for Western Uganda in such a prestigious competition remains a proud memory for the school, and it continues to inspire us. That achievement challenges us to aim high, but for now, our priority is qualification. Strategies for lifting the national cup will come later.”
Atuhairwe also acknowledged that limited enrollment has been a major obstacle, as a smaller student body restricts the pool of players available for selection—a key reason their return to the competition took so long.
Originally administered by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, the school’s football team flourished under the guidance of Fr. Cornelius Ryan, who led them to victory in the 1997 edition held in Mbarara.
In the tournament’s group stage, drawn on Friday in Kampala, Kyegobe will face Mumsa High Mityana, hosts Teso Progressive Academy, and Wisdom High School Akalo in Group K.
Past 10 USSSA boys football champions
2024-St Julian
2023-St Mary’s SS Kitende
2022-St Mary’s SS Kitende
2019: St Mary’s SS Kitende
2018: Buddo S.S
2017: Jinja S.S
2016: Kibuli SS
2015: St Mary’s SS Kitende
2014: Kibuli SS
2013: St Mary’s SS Kitende
*1997-St Leo’s Kyegobe