Africa-Press – Uganda. Jinja Comprehensive Secondary School has etched its name into the history books after securing its first-ever Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) football title for Jinja City, following a commanding 2–0 victory over Jinja Secondary School.
The highly anticipated final, held at Kyabazinga Stadium on April 1, drew a large and energetic crowd, highlighting the significance of the fixture in the city’s school football calendar.
Jinja Comprehensive’s triumph not only earned them a maiden trophy but also ended the long-standing dominance of Jinja SS and Jinja Progressive Secondary School (JIPRA), who had shared the title for years in an alternating pattern.
The breakthrough came in the first half when Hassan Waiswa opened the scoring in the 35th minute, giving Jinja Comprehensive a crucial lead. Just four minutes later, Reagan Ssekajja doubled the advantage with a well-taken goal in the 39th minute, effectively putting the game beyond reach for their rivals.
Jinja SS struggled to recover from the quick succession of goals, as Jinja Comprehensive maintained composure and tactical discipline throughout the second half to seal a historic victory.
Their road to the title was equally impressive, having earlier eliminated defending powerhouse JIPRA in a decisive encounter. This remarkable run makes them the first school in recent history to defeat both dominant sides in a single tournament campaign.
In the girls’ category, however, JIPRA reaffirmed their strength by clinching the championship after narrowly defeating Jinja Comprehensive 1–0 in the final, courtesy of a goal by Lyton Nandejje, in a match also played at Kyabazinga Stadium.
Jinja Comprehensive’s victory signals a shift in the balance of power in Jinja City school football, ushering in a new era and establishing the school as an emerging force to watch in future competitions.
All eight quarterfinalists have progressed to the Busoga Regional Championship, which will be held in Kamuli District. The Busoga sub-region, comprising 12 districts including Jinja City, will host teams from across the region.
Schools that have qualified for the regional championships include Lakeside SS Masese, Jinja SS, Jinja Comprehensive SS, JIPRA, and Jinja City High, among others.
The top four schools at the regional level will join 56 others to make a total of 60 teams that will compete in the national championship scheduled to take place in Lira City in May this year.
