♟️♟️ St Mary’s College Kisubi Wins Gold, Wampewo & St Henry’s Kitovu win Bronze at FEASSA Games 2025
The Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games is the premier annual multi-sport championship for secondary schools across East Africa. Established to promote unity, cultural exchange, and talent development, the Games bring together thousands of athletes to compete in football, basketball, netball, rugby, athletics, and intellectual sports like chess.
This year’s edition, held in Kakamega County, Western Kenya, from August 12–23, 2025, was historic as Kakamega hosted the Games for the first time. More than 9,000 participants including athletes, coaches, and officials attended, with Bukhungu Stadium upgraded with a new artificial turf to mark the occasion.
Uganda made a strong statement in Kakamega, particularly in chess, bringing home multiple medals and reaffirming its dominance in East African school chess.
In the boys’ chess category, St Mary’s College Kisubi stormed to victory, winning gold with 14 match points after seven rounds. They were followed by Tigers Institution (Kenya), who claimed silver with 12 match points, while Uganda’s St Henry’s College Kitovu earned bronze with 10 match points. Jinja College also performed well, finishing 5th overall.
In the girls’ section, Wampewo Ntaake Secondary School clinched bronze under the guidance of coaches Ntumwa Ivan and Ssemwanga Ivan, while Iganga Secondary School impressed with a 5th-place finish.
Leading the Ugandan chess delegation was Mr. Muke Bright, Chairperson of Chess in Schools, who commended the teams for their preparation, resilience, and sportsmanship.
The chess competition was broadcast live via Lichess, allowing enthusiasts from around the globe to follow key matches including Round 4 of the Open category as they unfolded lichess.org. This digital coverage elevated the visibility of school chess and its growing significance in regional sport culture.
Uganda’s exceptional show: Gold for St Mary’s College Kisubi, Bronze for St Henry’s College Kitovu, and Bronze for Wampewo Ntaake Secondary School cements its place as a regional chess powerhouse. The inclusion of chess broadcasts at this year’s FEASSA provided a platform to inspire and grow the game across East Africa.
Credit
Samuel Were
