Overall medal standings
Uganda: 18 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 Bronze
Kenya 8 Gold, 9 Silver and 8 Bronze
Rwanda: 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 9 Bronze
Tanzania: 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze
Uganda continues to take East African inter-schools competitions by storm and have been a dominant force over the past few years. After a sporting masterclass in Arusha, Tanzania in 2022, the country again emerged as the overall champions of the 2023 FEASSSA Games which concluded in Huye District, Southern province, over the weekend.
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The defending champions garnered a total of 50 medals including 18 gold medals, 12 silver and 10 bronze to finish at the summit of the general medal standings. They were followed by Kenya who won 25 medals in total including eight gold, nine silver and nine bronze.
Despite hosting the 20th edition of the FEASSSA Games, hosts Rwanda finished in third place with 15 medals in total including 2 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze.
Rwanda’s gold medals were courtesy of Magnifique Uwase Umutesi who struck gold twice in 100m and 400m. The hosts also collected 4 silver medals in Basketball (5*5) (boys and girls), boys’ basketball (3*3) and boys’ Handball competitions through Ecole Saint Bernadette Kamonyi, College Sainte Marie Reine, and AGEDI Gituza respectively.
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Tanzania returned home as the lowest ranked participant, having managed only three medals (2 silver and 1 bronze).
The official closing ceremony of the FEASSSA Games was preceded by a girls’ football final match between Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim S.S and Kenyan Weyita Girls. Kawempe Muslim emerged victorious with a 2-0 victory to take home the trophy.
Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju and Joseph Oradishi, the president of Nigeria School Sports Federation and a member of International Schools Federation (ISF), were among top officials who witnessed the final match and graced the closing ceremony of the Games at Huye Stadium.
Munyangaju congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of FEASSSA Games in bringing together the East African through sports.
"Sports teach the needed values of inclusiveness and team work that go beyond the pitches and courts into building and fostering African togetherness. As I thank the Ministry of Education and all the organizers for providing this platform to our young athletes, I would like to reiterate our commitment to supporting sports in schools,” she said.
"FEASSA Games will keep on being a place where young athletes learn values of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. We pledge to continue to enhance these opportunities, invest in proper training, and empower those who guide our athletes.”
FEASSSA president Justus Mugisha thanked the exceptional hospitality that Rwanda offered to all participants, saying that "everything went down well and according to plan.”
"This is a lesson that we ought to emulate. The students return home with tons of experience and knowledge. We appreciate the hospitality. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate the level of organization. We yearn to make the East African region a hub of sports in Africa,” Mugisha said.
The FESSSA Games 20th edition, was taking place in Huye and Gisagara districts, Southern Province, from August 17-27.
The competition brings together High schools and primary schools from the six member countries of the East African Community including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Zanzibar and Uganda. Teams compete in different sports disciplines.
This year, Rwanda was represented by 460 players from 24 teams in 13 sporting disciplines including football, basketball, netball, handball, rugby, hockey, athletics, badminton, lawn tennis, swimming, and goalball.
Uganda will host the 2024 FEASSSA Games.