The crowning ceremony for the Mind Sports disciplines at the 2026 USSSA Ball Games II was held on Wednesday, 15th July, in the main hall of Sacred Heart Secondary School, Gulu city.
Ludo, Scrabble, Darts and Chess were the mind games played by the different schools during the championship.
Rev. Canon Duncans Mugumya, the Commissioner at the Ministry of Education and Sports in charge of sports, graced the awards ceremony, also attended by the USSSA president Justus Mugisha, Patrick Okanya (president Emeritus), ASSHU General Secretary, Hajji Twahil Kitezaala (chairperson of the local organising committee) and other officials.
“The addition of Mind Games to the USSSA Ball Games II is a big milestone for the schools’ games,” Rev. Mugumya stated.
“Mind Games are relevant because they show how smart one is. In Uganda, they are the fastest growing category of games, and as USSSA, we are honoured to have them,” Mugisha spoke.
The top three schools received medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze) with a trophy for the champion.
Each of the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) also got a special trophy.
Chess:
St Andrew Kaggwa Gombe High won the gold in ladies’ (chess) with St Henry’s Kitovu taking the male gold.
Wampeewo Ntake and Iganga settled for silver and bronze, respectively, for the girls.
The male silver also went to Wampeewo Ntake, as Kira College Butiki earned bronze.
St Cyprian High School’s Kyabakadde chess wizard was the top-most valuable player for the men, as Melvin Nakatudde won the female MVP gong.
Scrabble:
Wampeewo Ntake S.S won the female gold in Scrabble as Rev. Isoke High School took the male gold.
Seroma Christian High School earned silver for the girls, and Mary Hill took bronze.
For the male, Ntare School won the male scrabble silver whilst Standard High School clinched bronze.
Tracy Namwanje of Wampeewo Ntake was the female MVP, as Joshua Lokwe of Rev. Isoke was the male MVP.
Ludo:
Beckham Muyanja and Dayas Arikiriza were the male and female MVPs in Ludo, respectively.
Namisindwa district’s Magale S.S won the boys’ Ludo championship ahead of Sacred Heart Wamirongo from Wakiso and Kampala’s Kitebi S.S
For the ladies, gold was claimed by Kashaka Girls ahead of Koro High (silver) and Central College Kamuli (bronze).
Darts was won by Bombo Secondary School.
This is the first time that Darts has been played at this championship.
Besides the Mind sports disciplines, the USSSA Ball Games II menu has also had an assortment of games, such as Netball, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Football (U-14 and U-17), Basketball (3X3), Kho Kho, Woodball, Dancesport, among others.
This year’s USSSA Ball Games II will climax on Thursday, 16th July 2026.
