Mbarara City | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The 15th Edition of the Chief of Defence Forces Cup Tournament came to a thrilling conclusion yesterday at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara. Over the course of two weeks, this sporting extravaganza drew the participation of 19 football teams and 12 netball teams from various formations and units within the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.

In a nail-biting final showdown between the Air Force and Engineers Brigade, the score remained deadlocked at one goal each after a hard-fought 90 minutes of play. However, the Engineers Brigade pulled off an astounding victory, triumphing 4-1 in the penalty shootouts, leaving the Airmen stunned. Meanwhile, in the realm of netball, the Air Force emerged victorious, triumphing over UPDF Headquarters.

Presiding over the closing ceremony of the tournament, Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, extended his gratitude to the formation commanders for their invaluable contributions to the tournament’s success. He emphasized how such sporting events fostered camaraderie among participants and allowed people to explore different parts of their homeland they might never have ventured to.

Lt. Gen. Elwelu commended all participants in various games and sports, regardless of their final results, and assured the teams of the CDF’s unwavering commitment to supporting sports within the UPDF.

Brigadier General Paul Muhanguzi, Acting Head of the 2 Infantry Division, lauded the division for hosting the tournament and expressed his confidence that the objectives of the CDF Cup had been met. He extended gratitude to the Chieftaincy of Education, Sports, and Culture for organizing and overseeing the event, as well as to Ntare School and Mbarara High School for providing their sports facilities for team practices. Additionally, Mbarara City and Mbarara Primary schools were thanked for offering accommodations to the participating teams.

Colonel Deus Taremwa, the Acting Chief of Education, Sports, and Culture, emphasized that this year’s tournament theme showcased that the UPDF possessed not only military prowess but also abundant sporting talent. He pledged to facilitate UPDF clubs in talent scouting and announced plans to expand the range of sports disciplines to include boxing, volleyball, basketball, and marathons.

Lt. Col. Buha Magero, the Director of Finance at Wazalendo SACCO and Acting Managing Director of Wazalendo Investments Ltd, reaffirmed WAZALENDO’s commitment as the primary sponsor of the tournament. They will continue supporting UPDF sports activities to enhance the performance of the clubs.

The participating teams represented a wide array of units, including the Special Forces Command, Armoured Brigade, Motorized Infantry, CMI, Magamaga, Field Artillery Division, Jinja Cantonment, Military Police, and Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4, among others.

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