Airtel Uganda has renewed its partnership with the Buganda Kingdom for the 22nd edition of the Airtel Masaza Cup, reaffirming a long-standing collaboration centred on youth empowerment, community mobilisation and sports development.
Launched in Kampala on June 10, the tournament remains one of the most prominent cultural and sporting events within the kingdom, bringing together all 18 counties in a competition that has, over the years, evolved into a key platform for identifying and nurturing football talent.
Speaking at the launch, Airtel Uganda managing director Soumendra Sahu credited the Buganda Kingdom leadership for sustaining grassroots football initiatives through the Masaza Cup and related tournaments. He noted that beyond sport, the competition has increasingly been used to advance social causes, including public health awareness and community engagement programmes.
The 2026 edition will kick off with defending champions Buweekula hosting Kyaddondo at the National Teachers’ College grounds in Mubende, setting the stage for a series of fixtures expected to draw large crowds across the kingdom.
Buganda’s Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, described the tournament as a unifying platform that continues to bring together communities while promoting national development through sport. He said the Masaza Cup has played a significant role in shaping football careers, with several players using it as a springboard to national representation.
Mayiga also underscored the role of sport in advancing public health campaigns, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, an initiative strongly championed by the Kabaka of Buganda. He noted that the tournament provides an effective avenue for mobilising communities and disseminating key health messages.
The Katikkiro further commended Airtel and other partners for their sustained support towards kingdom programmes, citing initiatives such as the Kabaka Birthday Run and the Bika tournament as examples of collaboration that extend beyond football.
For more than two decades, the Masaza Cup has attracted widespread participation and support, becoming both a sporting spectacle and a vehicle for social cohesion within Buganda. Organisers say the continued partnership is expected to expand opportunities for young people, particularly through initiatives that integrate sport with skills development and community outreach.
As preparations for the new season get underway, attention will once again turn to how effectively the tournament balances its dual role—competitive sport on the pitch and social impact beyond it.
