2025 USSSA Championship: Won Nyaci to Flag Off Lango Zone Schools

Lira City, Uganda — May 3, 2025. In a vibrant press briefing held on Sunday, May 3, 2025, at Town View Hotel Annex in Lira City, it was confirmed that H.H Moses Michael Odongo Okune, the Won Nyaci (Paramount Chief) of Lango, will officially flag off five schools representing the USSSA Lango Zone at the 2025 National Championship. The prestigious event is set to kick off on Monday, May 5, 2025, with boys’ matches hosted in Ngora District and girls’ matches in Bukedea District.

The five schools that qualified to carry the pride of Lango Zone are:

For Boys (Ngora District, hosted at Ngora High School):

• Mentor Secondary School (Lira City)

• Wisdom High School (Kole District)

• Lira Town College (Lira City)

For Girls (Bukedea District, hosted at Bukedea Comprehensive Secondary School):

• St. Mary Magdalene Girls' Secondary School (Lira City)

• Acaba Secondary School (Oyam District)

The press briefing was attended by key stakeholders including Geoffrey Odur, Director of Mentor Schools and Chairperson of USSSA Lira City, Ambrose Ogwal, Director of Wisdom High School, and Levi Abongo, Head Teacher of Lira Town College.

Geoffrey Odur expressed optimism about the teams’ preparation, emphasizing that this year could be the breakthrough for Lango Zone, which has yet to claim the national championship trophy. “We have a dedicated budget of UGX 75 million to ensure the teams are well supported and prepared,” Odur stated, urging local businesses, politicians, and football enthusiasts to rally behind the teams.

Ambrose Ogwal (L) and Geoffrey Odur (R) during a USSSA Lango Zone match at D.O.C Boroboro.

Ambrose Ogwal highlighted the spirit of unity among the schools, noting that their cooperation extends beyond competition. “These schools will share strategies and technical insights to ensure collective success. This is why we invited Won Nyaci to flag off the teams — they represent the entire Lango community, not just their individual campuses,” Ogwal explained.

Levi Abongo confirmed that the Paramount Chief will lead the flagging-off ceremony that will kickoff at 8:30am, on Monday 5th May 2025 at Lira Town College playground, following a short prayer led by Rev. Johnson Ogema. He called on all Lango residents to attend the event and encouraged supporters to travel to Bukedea and Ngora Districts to cheer on the players during the national meet.

Groups and Rankings 

Girls: 

In the upcoming edition, St. Mary Magdalene Girls' SS has been drawn into Group C, where they will face off against formidable schools; Lugazi Homestone SS, Bubangizi SS, and Bunya SS. Each team brings unique strengths and ambitions to the field.

Meanwhile, Acaba SS finds themselves in Group L, pitted against Boni Consilii Girls' Vocational SS, Tororo Girls' Secondary School, and Newton Secondary School. This diverse group presents a fresh set of challenges and opportunities for Acaba SS to demonstrate their growth and determination.

Reflecting on their journey, both schools participated in the 2024 USSSA National meet, where St. Mary Magdalene Girls' SS secured 22nd place nationally, while Acaba SS finished 28th. These experiences have fueled their drive to climb higher in the rankings and make a significant impact in the 2025 tournament.

Boys:

Mentor Secondary School, the reigning Lango Zone champions, have been drawn into Group E, where they will face stiff competition from Kisozi Seeds SS, Lubiri SS, and Mt. Zion. Mentor SS, known for their disciplined gameplay and tactical prowess, will be looking to improve on their 22nd-place finish from last year’s nationals.

The 1st runners-up from Lango Zone, Wisdom High School Akalo, find themselves in Group K alongside formidable opponents Mumsa High School, Teso Progressive Academy, and St. Leo. Wisdom High School Akalo made a significant mark last year by finishing 11th nationwide, and they are eager to climb even higher in this year’s meet.

Lira Town College, who secured the 2nd runner-up spot in the Lango Zone, has been placed in Group F. Their group includes Kawempe Muslim SS, St. Kagwa Bushenyi, and Panyadoli SS. After missing out on last year’s national meet, Lira Town College is determined to make a strong comeback.

The 2025 USSSA National Schools Sports Championship marks a significant opportunity for Lango Zone’s young athletes to showcase their talents on a national stage, with hopes high for a historic victory.