The Buganda Kingdom has unveiled a thrilling sports and cultural calendar for 2025, promising a rich blend of competition, tradition, and youth empowerment. Kicking off with the highly anticipated Ggombolola Cup on January 19th, the Kingdom will engage 4,375 players across football, netball, and Mweso in 175 sub-counties. This grassroots tournament will run until March 30th, paving the way for the Buganda Schools Galla from March 13th to 16th. The Kabaka, ever committed to nurturing talent, has called upon young stars to seize the moment and showcase their skills across multiple sports disciplines.
In a continued celebration of tradition and health, the Kingdom’s iconic Kabaka Birthday Run will take place on April 6th under the theme, “Men Take the Lead to Prevent HIV/AIDS from the Girl Child.” For the first time, this celebrated event will be decentralized, with counties far from Mengo designing unique routes while Kyadondo County retains the historic Lubiri Palace course. Coupled with cycling races in Buddu, Bugerere, and the grand finale at Ring Road in Mengo on November 16th, the Kingdom is ensuring an inclusive and memorable sporting year.
Further anchoring the Kingdom’s cultural pride is the Bika Tournament, a unifying platform where clans converge in celebration of heritage through netball, football, futsal, and U12 children’s games. The tournament begins with a dinner on March 23rd and concludes with football finals on May 31st. Notably, the tournament’s purpose, as eloquently expressed by Ow’ekitiibwa Robert Sserwanga, is to ensure “no one forgets their roots while championing sports as a binding force.” This year, it will also introduce a novel twist with the integration of traditional wrestling competitions during the Youth Day on November 16th.
From the prestigious Masaza Cup to the coronation golf, rugby, and badminton tournaments, Buganda’s 2025 calendar is an ode to unity, culture, and excellence. As the Kingdom forges ahead with its vision, it calls upon all Ugandans to rally behind these initiatives. “The bird that builds its nest does so with one twig at a time,” Sserwanga reflected, urging the youth to embrace these opportunities with vigor and purpose. This year’s activities reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to showcasing the beauty of tradition while nurturing the promise of tomorrow.
