Yumbe District emerged champions of the 2026 West Nile Cup after defeating hosts Moyo in the final played at Celecelea Stadium.
Yumbe completed a dominant campaign by winning all their matches to lift the trophy in a tournament that brought together six districts from the West Nile sub-region.
Westnile cup trophy ( Courtesy)
The competition, which started on Wednesday, September 9, featured Moyo, Madi Okollo, Yumbe, Obongi, Terego and Adjumani. The teams initially competed in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
The tournament was played under the theme “Unity Through Sports”, with organisers seeking to use football as a platform to strengthen relations among the region's districts while providing opportunities for emerging players.
The West Nile Cup was established in 2012 by former FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa, with Arua District hosting the inaugural edition . It was introduced as a platform to nurture and identify football talent at grassroots level. This year's edition largely targeted players from the Regional League and lower divisions.
Talent in one shot(Photo Credit: Fex management)
However, several established football districts were missing from the competition.
Arua, Nebbi, Zombo, Koboko, Maracha and Pakwach did not take part, with financial constraints and inadequate preparations cited among the reasons for their absence.
Their absence reduced the number of participating districts from the region's 13, but the tournament proceeded with the six teams that had registered.
Speaking after the tournament, Ariga Rasul thanked the stakeholders who contributed to its successful organisation.
Rasul said the competition remains important in bringing the region together and identifying what he described as raw football talent in West Nile, a region known for its diversity.
He also urged districts that did not participate this year to consider joining future editions.
Rasul said the respective District Football Associations had been informed about the tournament, while district authorities were expected to provide support where necessary.
A class above the rest. Pure brilliance on the pitch.(Photo Credit: Supa Mario)
For Yumbe, the tournament provided more than a chance to compete.
Their flawless run and eventual triumph over Moyo have placed the district at the centre of attention as West Nile continues to search for and develop talent beyond the region's traditional football centres.
For the 2026 edition, Yumbe have set the benchmark.
