MTN Uganda and the Tooro Kingdom have officially kicked off the fifth edition of the Tooro Kingdom MTN Amasaza Football Tournament and the second edition of the Tooro Kingdom Netball Tournament, ushering in another exciting season of sport, culture and community engagement under MTN Uganda’s Free Your Fire campaign.
The tournament, which officially got underway yesterday, Sunday 12th July at Humura Church of Uganda Playground in Kyaka County, Kyegegwa District, forms part of the activities leading to the coronation anniversary celebrations of His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV in September. This year’s competition brings together teams from the Kingdom’s nine counties of Kyaka, Mwenge North, Mwenge South, Bunyangabu, Ntoroko, Kibale, Kitagwenda, Burahya and Fort Portal, who will compete for football and netball honours over the coming weeks.
Speaking at the launch, MTN Uganda’s Brand Sponsorships & Events Manager, John Paul Okwi, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering young people through sport while rewarding excellence both on and off the field.
“The Tooro Kingdom MTN Amasaza Tournament has continued to grow into one of the region’s most important sporting and cultural platforms, and we are proud to continue this journey alongside the Kingdom. This year, we have significantly enhanced the rewards for players, teams and fans because we believe talent deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Through our Free Your Fire campaign, we want every young person to pursue their passion with confidence, knowing MTN, Uganda’s biggest network is here to connect them to opportunities and help them unlock their full potential,” Okwi said.
This year’s tournament comes with an enhanced prize kitty, with MTN Uganda increasing the total football prize fund from UGX 25 million to UGX 35 million, while the netball prize fund has been increased from UGX 10 million to UGX 15 million. The prize money will be shared among participating teams based on their final tournament standings, further rewarding performance across both competitions.
Outstanding individual performances will also be recognised at every football fixture. Each competing team will nominate one outstanding player, after which the tournament’s technical committee will select the overall Player of the Match. The winning player will receive UGX 200,000, while the second nominee will be awarded UGX 100,000.
Beyond the action on the pitch, MTN Uganda has introduced a series of customer and fan engagements designed to bring supporters even closer to the tournament. During every match, five customers who pay participating merchants using MTN MoMo will each stand a chance to win UGX 50,000 on MTN MoMo, while the five top-performing merchants will also be rewarded for driving digital payments. Customers who purchase a UGX 5,000 weekly voice bundle or buy an eligible MTN device during match days will also qualify for raffle draws, where they stand a chance to win mobile money worth UGX 50,000.
The excitement will extend into the digital space through the Fans of the Match challenge, where supporters are encouraged to record and share videos backing their favourite county on TikTok using #MTNTooroHaFayaaa. The five fans whose content attracts the highest engagement within 24 hours after each match will each receive UGX 50,000 through MTN MoMo.
Representing His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Owek. Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki said the tournament continues to strengthen unity across the Kingdom while creating opportunities for young people to showcase their talent.
“The Tooro MTN Amasaza Tournament has become one of the Kingdom’s flagship activities because it brings together our people, strengthens their connection to the Kingdom and provides young people with an opportunity to demonstrate their sporting talent. His Majesty remains committed to youth empowerment, not only through sports but also through initiatives such as the donation of land for the construction of a stadium and the Tooro Youth Empowerment Project, which continues to support young people with coffee seedlings and chicks to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
The tournament opened with a closely contested Masaza Shield encounter that saw defending champions Kyaka County overcome last year’s runners-up Fort Portal County 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended goalless in normal time, setting the tone for another highly competitive season.
As the tournament heads into its first round of county fixtures, MTN Uganda is inviting football and netball fans across the Kingdom to rally behind their teams, participate in the match day experiences and enjoy the rewards available throughout the competition. Whether supporting from the stands, paying with MoMo, purchasing MTN products and services or joining the online conversation through #MTNTooroHaFayaaa, every fan has an opportunity to be part of this year’s unforgettable tournament experience.
