PULSE PLAY ELITE GALA 2026: A Celebration of Grassroots Talent at Mutungo
The Mutungo Turf Arena came alive on 5th September 2026 as young footballers from across the city converged for the PULSE PLAY ELITE GALA 2026 Edition, organized by Jonathan Wangwanyi. The one-day tournament brought together 28 teams competing across four age categories, creating a vibrant festival of youth football that highlighted the future of the game.
This year’s edition featured nine academies including WAMU SA, hosts PULSE PLAY SA, Beacons SA, Success SA, Brentford SA, Iteen International SA, KAM SA, Normans SA and Genius SA. Teams battled it out in the U7, U10, U13, U15 Boys and, for the first time, the U15 Girls category.
The inclusion of the girls’ category marked a historic milestone for the gala, underlining the organizers’ commitment to inclusivity and the growth of women’s football at grassroots level. The inaugural U15 Girls title was fittingly won by WAMU Soccer Academy.
Beyond the trophies, the gala served a much bigger purpose.
Tournaments like the Pulse Play Elite Gala are crucial for showcasing skills, promoting young talent, fostering connection and friendship among academies, encouraging healthy competition, instilling discipline and teamwork, and providing a professional platform for scouts and coaches to identify the next generation of stars.
For many of these children, it was their first taste of organized competitive football, an experience that builds character both on and off the pitch.
In the U10 category, Normans SA emerged champions with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Iteen International SA in the final. Josiah Titibya of Normans SA was named Best Player, while Genius SA’s Dalton finished as Top Scorer with 4 goals. Iteen ISA swept the Best Goalkeeper and Best Coach awards in the category.
The U13 crown went to Success SA who defeated Genius SA in the final, with Jeremiah Aisu (Success SA) winning Best Keeper, Murey F. Alpha (Success SA) winning Best Player, Arafat of Genius SA taking Top Scorer, and Coach Tabaan of Genius SA named Best Coach.
In the U15 Boys, hosts Pulse Play SA lifted the trophy ahead of Iteen ISA, while WAMU SA beat Pulse Play SA to win the inaugural U15 Girls category.
The 2026 edition of the Pulse Play Elite Gala once again proved that grassroots football is thriving.
With impressive organization, competitive football, and a clear development objective, Jonathan Wangwanyi and his team delivered a tournament that not only celebrated winners but also nurtured dreams. It was more than just a gala; it was an investment in the future of Ugandan football.
