Amus College School has delivered a double podium finish for Uganda at the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, winning the boys’ title and finishing third in the girls’ competition.
The Bukedea-based school sealed the boys’ championship with a 1-0 victory over hosts Rwanda in the final played at Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday, September 5.
The victory secured Uganda’s place at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals and maintained the country’s dominance in the boys’ regional competition. The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) confirmed the result, saying Uganda had successfully defended the boys’ title.
Amus entered the regional tournament after winning both the boys’ and girls’ national titles at the USSSA National Championships in Gulu in July. The achievement made the school the first to win both CAF African Schools Championship national titles in the same edition.
The boys began their campaign strongly, defeating South Sudan 1-0 and Burundi 3-0 before drawing 0-0 with Somalia in the group stage.
They then defeated Tanzania 3-1 in the semi-final to book their place in the decisive match against Rwanda.
The final victory completed an unbeaten campaign for the Ugandan side.
Mawanda named Player of the Tournament
Amus College also dominated the individual awards.
Vincent Kizza Mawanda was named the Boys’ Player of the Tournament, while Kennedy Okwi finished as the tournament’s top scorer.
Mukasa Stuart Junior was named Best Goalkeeper, giving the Ugandan champions a clean sweep of the major individual boys’ awards.
The success adds another chapter to Amus College’s rapid rise in schools football.
The school had already made history in July by winning the national boys’ and girls’ competitions, earning the right to represent Uganda in both categories in Kigali.
For the boys, the regional triumph also continues a strong Ugandan record in the CAF schools competition. Royal Giant High School won the inaugural CECAFA boys’ title in 2022, while St Mary’s Kitende later established itself as a regional force.
Amus has now taken over that responsibility.
Girls secure bronze
The Amus College girls also finished on the podium after defeating Rwanda 2-0 in the third-place playoff.
The victory came after Uganda had suffered a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Tanzania, ending an otherwise perfect group-stage run.
Amus had beaten Burundi 3-0, hosts Rwanda 1-0 and South Sudan 2-0 to finish the group stage with three wins from three matches.
In the bronze-medal match, Faith Akol put Uganda ahead before Hellen Namulondo doubled the advantage, giving Amus a 2-0 victory over the hosts.
Tanzania eventually won the girls’ title after defeating Kenya 3-0 in the final.
$150,000 in prize money
Amus’ performance also comes with significant financial rewards.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers offer US$100,000 to winners, US$75,000 to runners-up and US$50,000 to third-placed teams in each category.
The money, supported by the Motsepe Foundation, is intended for school development projects, including classrooms, sports facilities and clean-water infrastructure.
Amus’ boys’ title therefore earns the school US$100,000, while the girls’ bronze medal brings another US$50,000, giving the school US$150,000 in prize money across the two competitions.
The achievement is particularly significant for a school returning to the regional stage after its previous appearance in 2022. That year, Amus finished third in the girls’ competition, also collecting bronze.
What has changed since then is the scale of the ambition.
Amus College arrived in Kigali carrying Uganda’s hopes in both competitions. It leaves as regional boys’ champion, girls’ bronze medallist and the home of several of the tournament’s outstanding young players.
The boys will now represent the CECAFA region at the continental stage of the CAF African Schools Football Championship.
For Uganda’s schools football, the message is becoming difficult to ignore: the next generation is not waiting for its turn.
It is already winning.
