David GOMBE
The organizers of the Ankole Cup have released the fixtures for the 2026 edition that will officially kickoff on Saturday, June 6th at Bushenyi.
The tournament will comprise 13 districts from Ankole region and have been grouped into four groups.
Group A has Bushenyi district, Sheema district and Ntungamo district while Kazo district, Ibanda district and Kiruhura district are in group B.
Group C has Isingiro district, Rwampara district, Mbarara City and Kashari whereas Group D has Buhweju district, Rubirizi district and Mitooma district.
The opening fixture will be held on 6th June at Bushenyi Main Stadium, with Bushenyi taking on Sheema in the opening match.
The first match in Group B will be between Ibanda district against Kazo at St. George PTC on Sunday, 7th June while Mbarara City will lock horns with Kashari in the Group C game the following day at Nyakayojo.
On Tuesday, 9th June Mitoma District will host Buhweju district in the first game of Group D at Ruhinda SS Playground.
According to the fixture seen by this website the quarterfinal stage will be played on home and away basis from Saturday, 18th July to 26th of the same month.
Runners Up in Group C will face off with winners of Group A while runners up in Group A will battle the winners of Group C at the quarterfinal stage. The winners after both legs will battle for a place in the final.
Group B winners will lock horns with Group D runners and Group B runners Up will fight a semifinal slot with winners of Group D. The winners after the two legged quarterfinal will lock horns in the semifinal.
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, 1st August to 9th with the final slated for 16th of the same month at Kabwohe stadium.
According to the organizers, a total of 43 matches are set to be played from the group stages, quarter-finals (two legs), semi-finals (two legs) and the grand finale.
Each team will have a 25-man squad but 20 of the players must be born within that exact district and five players who feature in superior leagues can be used.
