In a bid to combat the rising issue of teenage pregnancies among youths engrossed in social media and modern distractions, the kingdom of Ker-Alur and MTN Uganda have strategically turned to sporting events.

The telecommunication giants and the Kingdom aim to utilize the inter-county cultural football tournaments as a platform to unite young minds and impart essential messages on good moral and cultural practices.

The 6th edition of the inter-county football tournament in Ker-Alur kicked off on November 15, 2023 with teams fiercely competing for not just the title but also to spread awareness on crucial issues.

The latest showdown witnessed Okoro County triumphing over Jonam County in a tight match, securing their spot in the final against Padyere County slated for November 30, 2023.

Despite travelling from Pakwach district, Jonam County faced disappointment due to subpar performances from their players, allowing Okoro County to stage a comeback in the 2-1 win.

Jonam’s coach, Mr. Ibrahim Fadhil pointed out defensive lapses that cost them the game.

“We had all the expectations to win the game but due to the weakness of our defenders to defend the only goal we scored in the first half, we were denied by the host who became aggressive and won the match.”

Meanwhile, Okoro County coach, Kevin Wanok remains confident in his team’s ability to reclaim the trophy. Despite a 4-0 setback against Padyere County in the opening match, Wanok believes his team has regrouped and is poised to emerge as champions in the 6th edition of the Ker-Alur sports spectacle.

“I’m so optimistic that my team will be crowned champions for the 6th sport edition of Ker–Alur,” Wanok said.

Prime Minister Opar Angala emphasized the transformative power of sports, stating that it is through such events that messages capable of reshaping the lives of the youth can be effectively delivered.

The final of the inter-county football tournament is set to be graced by Royal Majesty Phillips Olarker Rauni III at the Luo Ground, with MTN officials, the primary sponsors of the event, in attendance.

Opar ensures that all participants in the tournament will be duly recognized and awarded prizes at Luo ground, concluding the 6th edition of the inter-county Alur cultural football tournaments.

Table standing for Inter-county Ker-Alur football tournaments

County	Match played	Draw	Lost	Win	points
Padyere	2	1	0	1	4
Okoro	2	0	1	1	3
Jonam	2	1	1	0	-1

National Basketball League champions City Oilers will feature in season four of the Basketball Africa League.

Oilers will be making a back-to-back appearance in Africa’s premier club competition following the semifinal win in the Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mandy Juruni’s charges beat Dynamo of Burundi 72-61 at Ellis Park Arena on Friday afternoon to achieve the feat.

Oilers started strong winning the first quarter 19-5 and never looked back even when Dynamo came close at certain points in the game.

Robinson Opong led the way with 17 points (knocking down five 3-pointers) and 8 rebounds. Parrish Petty and Titus Odeke added 14 points each while Germaine Roebuck contributed 13 points.

The Oilers await the winner between Cape Town Tigers and COSPN to face in the finals of the Division.

As the MTN Monthly Tee series heads into the penultimate round today, Peter Apell and Bridget Basiima lead the race for the Order of Merit in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

Apell leads with a nett score of 575 after 10 rounds ahead of the MTN Monthly Tee for November that will be held today (Saturday, 25th) at Entebbe Golf Club.

Apell is closely followed by Michael Moone, with 576 nett after the same number of rounds.

Adoch Luwum and club chairman Jacob Byamukama are third and fourth with 579 and 583 nett respectively from 9 rounds.

The Ladies Order of Merit is led by former national team golfer Bridget Basiima with 577 nett after 10 rounds. Maureen Okura and Venessa Peris are in second and third position with 586 and 591 nett respectively having played 9 rounds.

The final round next month will have a car staked on hole 10 for an ace by the co-sponsors CFAO Motors.

• Tanzania 99/7 (20 overs)
• Uganda 105/2 15.2/20 overs
• Uganda won by 8 wickets

Cricket Cranes registered an 8-wicket win over Tanzania as the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers got underway on Tuesday at Wanderers Sports Ground in Windhoek, Namibia.

Uganda’s captain Brian Masaba won the toss and elected to put Tanzania to the bat and the decision was backed by his bowlers.

Bilal Hassun continued from where he left off during the build-up matches in Zimbabwe picking the important wicket of Ivan Selemani.

Alpesh Ramjan got three scalps and all rounder Riazat Ali Sha picked two with Henry Ssenyondo getting the other as Tanzania were limited to 99/7 in their 20 overs.

The chase for Uganda didn’t get off to a good start as Ronak Patel was dropped early but would shortly be sent to the hut with 15.

Roger Mukasa who walked on at 3 did not last either while at the other Simon Ssesazi swallowed up balls.

Riazat Sha who came on at 4 stabilised the ship with Ssesazi 31(35) feeding off his energy and the pair got Uganda over the line with 28 balls to spare.

For his performance with ball and bat, Shah who picked two wickets and blasted an unbeaten 47 off 28 was named the Man of the Match.

Cricket Cranes return to action on Friday afternoon against hosts Namibia.

Uganda Cranes have their heads in front at halftime of the 2016 Fifa World Qualifier match against Somalia.

Rogers Mato finished off a superb counterattack to give Uganda the lead in the fourth minute of the match being played at Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Somalia lost the ball near Uganda’s box and Travis Mutyaba initiated the attack playing Elvis Bomono who whipped in a cross that youngster Oyirwoth controlled and set up Mato for the openner.

The Cranes had two bookings with Aziizi Kayondo and Kenneth Ssemakula was booked for a reckless challenge.

The Cranes were lively throughout the half with Mutyaba coming close in the 42nd minute after slicing through Somalia’s defense while Oyirwoth had a shot fly over the bar earlier.

Mato missed a one-on-one trying to round the goalkeeper with two minutes to halftime.

Somalia were reduced to ten with Abdi Mohamed given marching orders for the second bookable office at the stroke of halftime.

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK), Elvis Bwomono, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Khalid Aucho (C), Allan Oyirwoth, Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Travis Mutyaba

Rising star Allan Oyirwoth has been handed his Uganda Cranes debut as the team takes on Somalia this afternoon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Oyirwoth is among the three changes that have been made for the match that will be played at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Isma Watenga starts in goal ahead of Jamal Salim, Elvis Bomono comes in at right back while Kenneth Ssemukula is moved into midfield in the place of Bobosi Byaruhanga to join skipper Khalid Aucho

Fahad Bayo, Rogers Mato and Travis Mutyaba maintain their places up front while Bevis Mugabi and Halid Lwaliwa will again pair up in the center of defense.

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK), Elvis Bwomono, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Khalid Aucho (C), Allan Oyirwoth, Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Travis Mutyaba

Jacob Kiplimo had a stunning performance at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen on Sunday, November 19.

The World cross-country champion who only returned to action from injury at the end of last month with a convincing win at the Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Atapuerca equalled the world 15km best with 41:05.

Kiplimo was forced to miss the World Championships in Budapest and the World Road Running Championships in Riga through injury but on Sunday, the Ugandan notched up another victory.

Kiplimo was 99 seconds ahead of compatriot Rogers Kibet and his time of 41:05 equals the world best set five years ago, coincidentally another compatriot Joshua Cheptegei.

He started out at a relatively conservative pace and reached 3km in 8:42, 23 seconds down on Cheptegei’s pace from 2018, but got to 5km in 14:24.

As Kibet was struggling to keep up, Kiplimo was out in front alone and he passed through 8km in 22:31 with a 24-second margin over his compatriot. He, however, reached the 10km checkpoint in 27:49, the exact same time Cheptegei recorded during his landmark run.

Kiplimo ran the final kilometre in 2:31 – his fastest of the race – coming home in 41:05. Kibet held on to second place in 42:44, securing a Ugandan 1-2.

Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes are the winners of the 2023 Safari 7s.

Agnes Nakuya, Lydia Namabiro, and Rita Nadunga crossed the try line to guide Uganda to a 15-12 win over Kenya Lionesses at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

It was a sweet revenge for the Lady Cranes, who had fallen to the Lionesses 12-05 on Day One of the tournament.

Unlike the previous games, the Lady Cranes had crumbled against the Cubs in the group stages earlier in the day largely due to a lack of ball movement but managed to play expansive rugby to register the victory.

“The loss to them (Lionessess) was close yesterday, but we believed we had to fix a few things mentally and put in the work. Congratulations to the girls; they’ve managed to pull this off. It’s a very good feeling” head coach Charles Onen said.

It should be noted that the Lady Cranes 7s were bronze medallists in Tunisia after defeating Zambia 29-10 in the third-place playoff of the Africa Women’s Sevens.

The Lady Rugby Cranes of Uganda will battle Kenya Lionesses at Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu on Saturday, November 11 in the Elgon Cup.

Ugandas squad for the match has been named as the teams will be meeting for the first time this year.

The two sides last met in November last year at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Kenya dominated the match, winning 23-03.

The Squad

1. Faith Namugga (Avengers) 

2. Fazirah Namukwaya (Avengers) 

3. Patricia Anek (Thunderbirds)

4. Leona Acen (Black Pearls)

5. Charity Atimango (Thunderbirds)

6.  Peace Mirembe (Black Pearls) 

7. Cabrine Kirabo (Avengers) 

8. Angela Nanyonjo (Avengers)

9. Sarah Nakafeero (Thunderbirds)

10. Tina Akello (Nile Rapids) 

11. Georgina Namukose (Avengers)

12. Asha Nakityo (Thunderbirds)

13. Monica Nandudu (Mbale)

14. Emily Lekuru (Black Pearls) 

15. Juliet Nandawula (Avengers) 

16. Kadara Nalinya (Panthers)

17. Brenda Kemigisha (Avengers)

18. Doreen Mbabazi (Panthers)

19. Nahia Fazial (Thunderbirds)

20. Brenda Kayiyi (Panthers) 

21. Fatuma Ramia (Panthers)

22. Angom Evelyn (Panthers)

23. Florence Babirye (Avengers)

The ultimate game of the 2023 Victoria Cup will be played this evening at Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere as the Uganda Rugby Cranes battle eternal rivals Kenya Simbas.

Uganda beat Zambia in the first game, winning 30-08 while Kenya registered a 36-12 four days later against the same side.

Uganda and Kenya last met in 2022 in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup in France and the Simbas came out on top.

Today’s fixtures will also serve as the first leg of the Elgon Cup, with Kenya hosting the return leg to be played next weekend in Kisumu.

Team News

Uganda’s technical team has made four changes to the starting side that defeated Zambia last weekend.

Asuman Mugerwa replaces Collins Kimbowa, sea robbers Moses Ziwa (Openside flank) and Sydney Gongodyo (eighth man) are in to make their debuts and Joseph Oyet is in at right wing for Shakim Ssembusi.

On the opposite side, Reinhard Mwalati, Wilhite Mususi and Walter Okoth are the three changes for the Simbas for the clash with Mwalati and Okoth making their test debuts in this fixture.

Uganda Rugby Cranes

Starting XV: 15. Timothy Kisiga, 14. Joseph Oyet, 13. Michael Wokorach, 12. Eric Mula, 11. Jacob Ocen, 10. Ivan Magomu, 9. Conrad Wanyama, 8. Sydney Gongodyo, 7. Moses Zziwa, 6. Byron Oketayot, 5. Eliphaz Emong, 4. Charles Uhuru, 3. Asuman Mugerwa, 2. Faragi Odugo, 1. Santos Ssenteza
Replacements: 16. Nathan Bwambale, 17. Ivan Kabagambe, 18. Saul Kivumbi, 19. Robert Aziku, 20. Frank Kidega, 21. Nicholas Kato, 22. Al Hajj Manano, 23. Liam Walker

Kenya Simbas

Starting XV: 15. Jone Kubu, 14. Joel Inzuga, 13. Bryceson Adaka, 12. Walter Okoth, 11. Alfred Orege, 10. Brian Wahinya, 9. Barry Young, 1. Ephraim Oduor, 2. Teddy Akala,3. Wilhite Mususi, 4. Hibrahim Ayoo, 5. Hillary Odhiambo, 6. George Nyambua (Captain), 7. Reinhard Mwalati, 8. Jeanson Misoga
Replacements: 16. Emmanuel Otieno, 17. Thomas Okidia, 18. Hillary Mwanjilwa, 19. Brian Ndirangu, 20. Peter Waitere, 21. Elkeans Musonye, 22. Dan Ang’wech, 23. Paul Mutsami