The 16th edition of the CDF Cup, a highly esteemed tournament for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), is set to commence tomorrow, Tuesday, 17 September 2024, at Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal City.
The event will be officially opened by the Commander Land Force, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga.
In a notable gesture of support, the Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (WSACCO) has generously donated sports uniforms to 20 football teams and 20 netball teams participating in the tournament.
Brig Gen Richard Karemire, the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying, “This donation is a big boost to our efforts in organising the 16th edition of the CDF Cup.”
Col Joseph Freddy Onata, CEO of WSACCO, highlighted that the donation reflects their commitment to the UPDF and supports the fitness, entertainment, and unity of the forces during the games.
The two-week tournament, hosted by UPDF’s Mountain Division, will feature 19 formations and units competing in football and netball. The participating teams include:
- 1 Infantry Division
- 2 Infantry Division
- 3 Infantry Division
- 4 Infantry Division
- 5 Infantry Division
- Mountain Division
- Field Artillery Division
- Armoured Division
- Motorised Infantry Division
- Air Force
- Magamaga Cantonment
- Special Forces Command (SFC)
- Military Police
- Kabamba Cantonment
- Marines Brigade
- Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS)
- Jinja Cantonment
- Bombo General Headquarters
- Engineers Brigade
The teams are divided into four groups:
- Group A: Mountain Division, Marines Brigade, 1 Division, Kabamba, and Bombo General Headquarters
- Group B: Engineers Brigade, Military Police, 4 Division, 2 Division, and Magamaga
- Group C: Field Artillery Division, 5 Division, Special Forces Command, and Motorised Infantry
- Group D: Air Force, Armoured Brigade, Jinja Cantonment, 3 Division, and CDIS
The tournament will kick off with an electrifying Group A match between the hosts, Mountain Division, and Marines Brigade.
The format of the competition will see the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, promising intense rivalries and exhilarating matches throughout.
The overarching goal of the tournament is to enhance physical fitness and esprit de corps within the UPDF, under the theme “Enhancing a culture of physical fitness and esprit de corps in UPDF through sports.”
The event will conclude on 27 September 2024, with the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, expected to attend the closing ceremony.
