Kitende Welcomes FEASSSA Heroes in Style as Mulindwa Pledges Mini-Stadium Upgrade
St Mary’s Boarding Senior Secondary School erupted into celebration on Tuesday as its victorious sports contingent returned from the 2026 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in Morogoro, Tanzania, with three coveted gold trophies.
The school’s success in basketball 5×5, netball and boys’ football sparked jubilant scenes from Kajansi to the school gates in Kitende, with the arrival procession temporarily bringing traffic and activity along the route to a standstill.
As the school bus approached the gates, students, staff and supporters lined the route, while vuvuzelas and excited boda boda riders provided a carnival like welcome. The celebrations offered the tired athletes renewed energy after their long journey from Morogoro.
At the school premises, the team was received by the O-Level Head Teacher, Mr Jimmy Ssembatya, who led the contingent to a specially prepared buffet lunch before the official welcome by school director Dr Lawrence Mulindwa.
Mulindwa praised the athletes, coaches, support staff and drivers for their commitment, discipline and care throughout the tournament.
He described the three trophies as a source of immense pride, saying winning is central to Kitende’s identity.
“Trophies are my security. It is the only joy I get when I see them around me,” Mulindwa said.
He also applauded the spirit of unity displayed by Ugandan schools in Morogoro, noting that institutions put aside their local rivalries to rally behind the national cause.
Uganda finished second overall with 19 gold medals, just one behind Kenya’s 20, but Mulindwa said the solidarity among Ugandan schools was one of the most encouraging aspects of the Games.
“I was pleased by the unity of schools and everyone from Uganda who was in Morogoro. They were behind Kitende regardless of the differences we always get locally,” he said.
‘You have brought out the true identity of Kitende’
Mulindwa thanked the athletes for delivering the trophies, saying their achievements continue to define the school on the national and regional sporting scene.
“Thanks again for winning these trophies and bringing out the true identity of Kitende. We are defined by winning everywhere we go,” he added.
In appreciation of their achievement, every member of the contingent received an envelope containing an undisclosed amount of money as a winning token. The school also promised the team a major celebration at the beginning of the third term to formally recognise their contribution.
From trophies to a mini stadium
However, the biggest announcement of the homecoming was not another reward for the athletes, but a commitment that could shape the future of sports at Kitende.
Mulindwa revealed plans to upgrade the school’s oldest football playing ground, popularly known as “Old Trafford,” into a mini stadium.
The gesture demonstrates his commitment to creating better facilities for the next generation of Kitende athletes and strengthening the competitive culture that has become synonymous with the school.
“Kitende is made of competition, and that is the secret behind our progress. For this, all the technical work is done for the upgrade of our Old Trafford to allow the spirit of competition to grow more and more,” Mulindwa said.
The proposed transformation of Old Trafford is more than an infrastructure project. It is a statement of confidence in the role of sport in shaping students, developing talent and maintaining the school’s competitive tradition.
For a school that has once again returned home carrying three FEASSA championship trophies, the upgrade could provide an even stronger platform for future generations to train, compete and chase more regional glory.
The Kitende celebrations therefore ended not merely with the presentation of trophies, but with a new promise that the school’s sporting success will be matched by investment in the facilities that produce its champions.