JOVOC REPRESENTS WITH PRIDE AT THE USSSA NATIONAL BALL GAMES II AND MIND GAMES CHAMPIONSHIPS.
On 7th July 2026, St. Joseph’s Vocational School Mbarara (JOVOC) sent a delegation of 33 students to Gulu City to represent the school at the USSSA National Ball Games II and Mind Games Championships, joining schools from across Uganda in one of the country’s major secondary-school sporting competitions.
The JOVOC contingent comprised 13 Under-17 basketball players, 10 chess players and 10 Scrabble players, all carrying the school’s colours onto the national stage after qualifying through the preceding levels of competition.
Mind Games Put JOVOC to the Test
Competition began with the individual events in Chess and Scrabble, where JOVOC students faced opponents from schools across the country.
Over 12 demanding rounds, the players were tested on concentration, strategy, decision-making and mental endurance. Following the individual contests, attention shifted to the team events, with each participating school fielding a five-player team in pursuit of national honours.
The competition was intense, but the JOVOC teams remained determined throughout the championship.
At the conclusion of the Mind Games, the Scrabble team finished 7th nationally, competing against formidable opposition that included Jabuloni Issoke Memorial College.
The Chess team finished 9th nationally, gaining invaluable competitive experience against some of Uganda’s finest young chess players.
JOVOC Basketball Finishes Third Nationally
On the basketball court, the JOVOC Under-17 team carried its competitive spirit into the national championship following an impressive journey through the earlier stages of competition.
The boys began strongly, registering victories in their opening two matches and demonstrating the quality that had earned them a place among Uganda’s leading school basketball teams.
As the competition intensified, JOVOC encountered formidable opposition, including Mbogo High School and Seroma Christian High School, providing the players with a stern test at national level.
Through determination, discipline and teamwork, the JOVOC Under-17 basketball team ultimately secured an impressive third-place finish nationally.
The achievement added another chapter to the school’s growing basketball story and demonstrated JOVOC’s ability to compete among strong basketball programmes from across the country.
More Than the Final Position
For JOVOC, participation in Gulu was about more than rankings and trophies.
Competing at national level exposed the students to different opponents, playing styles and competitive environments while providing valuable lessons in resilience, teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship.
Finishing 3rd nationally in Under-17 Basketball, 7th in Scrabble and 9th in Chess represented a commendable showing for the school across both physical and intellectual competition.
The championships also reflected JOVOC’s commitment to holistic education—providing students with opportunities to develop their talents beyond the classroom while maintaining the discipline and values upon which the school is founded.
St. Joseph’s Vocational School congratulates all the students, coaches and staff who represented the institution in Gulu. Their commitment and determination ensured that JOVOC was proudly represented on the national stage.
Congratulations, Team JOVOC!
Ora et Labora – Pray and Work.
