NICHOLAS A
Thousands of football fans on Sunday filled St. Gerald’s Secondary School playground to witness the quarterfinal matches of the third edition of the Boona FM Cup.
The quarterfinal stage featured four exciting encounters: Eastern Division versus Rwerere Town Council, Kebisoni Sub-county versus Nyarushanje Sub-county, Buyanja Town Council versus Nyakishenyi Sub-county, and Ruhinda Sub-county versus Bugangari Sub-county.
In the opening match, Eastern Division delivered a commanding 5–0 victory over Rwerere Town Council. The goals came from Ahumuza Nicholas, Ignitious Bajjuzi, Magande, and Basement Michael, who scored twice.
Nyarushanje Sub-county edged Kebisoni Sub-county 1–0 in the second match, with Oscar netting the decisive goal.
Buyanja Town Council also registered a dominant performance, beating Nyakishenyi Sub-county 3–0. Arinaitwe Franklin scored once, while Ariho Edwin added two goals.
In the final quarterfinal fixture, Ruhinda Sub-county defeated Bugangari Sub-county 2–0, with both goals scored by Kimmpembe.
Following the quarterfinal results, the semifinals will see Ruhinda Sub-county face Nyarushanje Sub-county, while Eastern Division will take on Buyanja Town Council.
Launched in 2023, the Boona FM Cup was established to unite sub-counties and promote sports development across Rukungiri District. In the ongoing third edition, each team that reached the quarterfinals received UGX 200,000. In addition, Boona FM Cup sponsor Arinaitwe Frank Rukanirwa awarded UGX 100,000 to each team from Rujumbura that participated at the quarterfinal stage.
At the finals, the tournament champions will take home UGX 3 million, the runners-up UGX 1 million, while the third and fourth-placed teams will each receive UGX 400,000.
Speaking at the event, the Rukungiri District Woman Member of Parliament and NRM flag bearer, Hon. Kebirungi Mary Paula Turyahikayo—who is also a director at Boona FM—said the station chose to invest in sports to nurture and empower young Ugandans’ talents, particularly in football. She noted that the initiative has already transformed lives, citing former Boona FM FC player Ernest Ankunda, who now plays for Vipers SC.
Hon. Paula reaffirmed Boona FM’s commitment to supporting sports and helping more young people realize their dreams. She also urged voters to support development in the 2026 elections, revealing that her focus would include talent development and the introduction of Boona TV.
Rubabo County MP aspirant and Boona FM Cup sponsor Alex Bob Rugonde praised Boona FM for its contribution to sports development, saying the initiative is reshaping the sporting landscape of Rukungiri District.
Rugonde further highlighted the Kigezi–Boona Motor Rally introduced in December 2022, noting that it gave residents a rare opportunity to experience motorsport and demonstrated Boona FM’s broader commitment to sports promotion.
Meanwhile, the Rukungiri District Secretary for Education, Commercial Services, and Tourism, Mmusiinta Kledonia Bakironda, commended Boona FM for its innovation, saying the Boona FM Cup brings sub-counties together and provides a platform to address sports-related challenges collectively.
The Boona FM Cup is expected to conclude on January 10, 2025, with the semifinals and finals slated to take place at Rukungiri Main Stadium.
