Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations (FEASSA) President Justus Mugisha has officially opened the 2026 FEASSA Games in Morogoro, Tanzania, ahead of the competition’s main action later today.Mugisha declared the Games open on Thursday during a meeting with team managers, technical commissars, coaches and officials from the participating countries##NAJAVA_MECA_9883320##That set the tone for an edition that has attracted a record number of participants across the federation’s three competition categories.Welcoming delegates to Morogoro, the Ugandan thanked the Government and people of Tanzania, as well as the Local Organising Committee, for hosting the regional school sports championship.“This edition of the FEASSA Games is historic. For the first time, we have recorded the highest number of participants ever in all categories of the Games, a clear indication of the growth and popularity of school sports across East Africa,” he said.The 2026 edition brings together athletes competing in the Secondary School Games for Under-19s, Primary School Games for Under-15s and Special Needs Education Games.Both boys and girls will compete across a wide range of disciplines, making this one of the most expansive editions in the federation’s history.The programme has also been expanded with the introduction of several new sports.A look at 13 Kenya U20 Barthés Trophy graduates who became rugby starsThe Under-19 competition will feature baseball for boys, softball for girls, lacrosse, cricket, cross country, beach volleyball and beach soccer.The Under-15 programme will include basketball, handball and cross country, while the Special Needs Education category will feature showdown, sitting volleyball and hi-soccer.The expansion comes as FEASSA seeks to widen participation and provide more opportunities for learners across the region to develop their sporting abilities.Mugisha also highlighted the growing international recognition of FEASSA, pointing to the recent election of both himself and FEASSA Secretary General David Ngugi to the Executive Committee of the International School Sport Federation (ISF).FEASSSA: Can Kenya’s school football champions end Uganda’s regional dominance in Morogoro?“This recognition belongs to FEASSA and the entire East African school sports community. It challenges us to continue raising standards in the organization and delivery of school sport,” he said.With the increased number of disciplines and participants, Mugisha urged technical officials, coaches and team managers to maintain high standards throughout the competition, with particular emphasis on athlete welfare, discipline and fair play.He also called for strict adherence to competition regulations and schedules, accurate reporting of results and proper management of the new disciplines as the Games get underway.“Our athletes have trained hard and competed at the highest levels to reach this stage. They deserve competitions that are well organized, safe, fair, and conducted with integrity,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9889887##Beyond the medals and results, the head described the Games as an important platform for bringing young people from across East Africa together, allowing them to build friendships, experience different cultures and strengthen regional integration through sport.He urged the participating countries to embrace unity, sportsmanship and mutual respect throughout the championship.FEASSSA 2026: Morogoro edition set to usher in new era for East African school sport
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