Kibuli SS: 68 years of football excellence

Kibuli SS, arguably the most successful school in Ugandan sport, marked 68 years of existence last Saturday.

In a series of events that started with a marathon on March 3, the school organised a sports gala on March 16 for current and old sports students and the celebration culminated on March 22 with the recognition of outstanding ambassadors. Zurah Nakabugo digs into what has made Kibuli tick.

To mark the occasion, US ambassador to Uganda Scott DeLisi, who was the guest of honour, hailed the school for maintaining a high standard in academics and sports. Over the past 30 years, Kibuli SS has produced an assembly of talent not matched by any other school. Zaidi Kitagaana, a Kibuli SS alumnus (1982 - 1988), teacher (1993 - 2010) and football team manager (1993 - 2003), recalls the school’s seeds of sporting success were sown in 1978 when The Cranes finished runners-up at the African Cup of Nation.

“That achievement motivated then Head teacher Hajj Abbas Kaawaase Mukasa to groom future stars right from the school level,” he says. “In the 80s, we kept on winning the post-primary championships at will.”

Kawaase’s passion for the football led him to introduce a training system which lives on today.

“He was struck by the terribly poor educational background of so many exciting Ugandan players. The idea was to produce educated footballers who play intelligently and coherently and are tolerant, sociable, hardworking and honest citizens,” adds Kitagaana.

The school’s ultimate goal was to lay a solid foundation by imparting modern skills to talented students and at the same time expose them to the rudiments of education. Kawaase made Kibuli a reputable learning centre with a rich history of sporting achievement not only in football but also netball, basketball, volleyball, cricket, tennis and athletics. To date, Kibuli SS is the record winner of the annual post primary schools tournament with eight titles.

“My best ever player for Kibuli is Joachim Matovu,” adds Kitagaana. “He was comfortable with the ball, strong in air and ground, had incredible passing and vision. He also had excellent positioning, high work rate, a dribbler, a natural finisher, unselfish, a tough tackler.”

Other notable stars to come from the school include the recently-departed Ali Kitonsa, who was the first Ugandan to play professional football when he featured for Egyptian giants Zamalek in the early 1960s. Others include former Cranes skipper Phillip Obwin, former Villa striker Peter Nsaba, former Express FC attacker Andrew Arinaitwe and late winger Davis Odowa.

Others are David Obua, Fufa Vice President Mujib Kasule, Eugine Seppuuya, Livingstone Mbabazi and Sulaiman Tenywa. The school has also produced the bulk of football brains that have masterminded great victories for the national team.

These include former Cranes coach Mike Mutebi and multi-travelled Sam Ssimbwa. Some of Kibuli SS coaches over the years include Badru Sentongo, Moses Mirundi, Ahmed Senyange, Davis Kamoga, Hussein Lwembawo, Kitagaana and Abdallah Mubiru, the current head coach.
The alumni speak out

Prof Badru Kateregga (1964-1968), the founding Vice Chancellor of Kampala University, notes that although they [teachers] were tough on books, sports was compulsory for students to stay fit. “We all participated in different sports activities since it was the easiest way we could refresh our minds and perform better in class,” he says.

Badru Kiggundu (1959-1964), the Electoral Commission Chairman, is proud of the school which has made him prominent to date: “I’m proud of the level of discipline combined with different sports activities that helped us perform better.”

Muzamil Mukwatampola (1986-1988, the Head teacher of Kasawo SS, has no regrets with the school due to his achievements: “The school has greatly improved in terms of infrastructure and I’m glad it has maintained the sporting culture as it was in our days.”

Davis Kamoga, who was a sports tutor and mathematics teacher at Kibuli from 1977 to 2003, says the school was his home. “I’m soon clocking 60 but staying in one place for 25 years is not easy. I’m glad most of The Cranes players have passed through my hands here at Kibuli.”

Sarah Kanyike Sebaggala (1981-1986), the personal assistant to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, is nostalgic. “I was the girls’ prefect for sports and played netball, basketball and athletics. We won so many national trophies and made Kibuli SS a popular school in sports and academics.”

Other notable sporting products from Kibuli SS

• Charles Ogwang
• Charles Sebugwawo
• Simeon Masaba
• Andrew Jombwe
• William Jagwe
• Sam Simbwa
• Mike Mutebi
• Muhamood Kateregga
• Robert Aloro
• Andrew Arinaitwe
• Joachim Matovu
• Salim Ahmed

• Robert Kansole
• Hamza Kalanzi
• Shaka Okello
• Jamil Kayondo
• Henry Kalungi
• Patrick Ntege
• Hannington Semazzi
• Geoffrey Bukohore
• Derrick Muyanja
• Robert Makiba
• Abdallah Mubiru
• Robert Ngumire

• David Kalungi
• Godfrey Mugisha
• Roberto Ojok
• Allan Tingu
• Vialli Bainomugisha
• Sylivester Ocaya
• James Katajwa
• Ali Semyalo