Pallisa, Uganda | TotalEnergies Pallisa on Saturday grabbed the recognition of being the Pallisa Corporate Gala winner after defeating Mbale Corporate Club in a tense match that ended in a penalty shootout at Busitema University Pallisa Campus playground.
Aaron Kabuna, one of the commentators, said when God says yes, nobody can say no.
“I couldn’t believe TotalEnergies could emerge the winner, but I saw their zeal when they reached the round of sixteen and won all their matches until they made it to the finals,” Kabuna said.
Esau Kifefe, the captain of TotalEnergies, said they have continued training so that when they go to Kitgum for the nationals in August, they will exhibit the same outcome.
Fued Calvin Emutto, the TotalEnergies Pallisa Branch Manager, said their achievement was a reflection of the dedication, discipline, and unity that each one in the club demonstrated. When the spirits were becoming weak, the magma of determination fuelled the players.
“It is not easy to win a gala of 25 determined teams, as you cannot have time to master and mark the exceptional players so that you plan how to encounter them. What led to our victory was that we didn’t lose and had only two draws right from the preliminaries to the finals,” Emutto said.
However, Lazarus Okia, the President of Pallisa Corporate Gala, gave a brief account of the benefits of the activity. He said apart from the obvious fitness benefits, entertainment, making new friends, and cooperation, the sport has positively impacted the community because in the first edition in 2024, they were able to purchase tents to provide shelter for cancer patients from Pallisa General Hospital who used to suffer under trees.
He said that in 2025, given the shortage of beds in the maternity ward, they procured two beds with the little they got from membership contributions.
The only school that took part in the gala was Pallisa Senior Secondary School, where the head teacher, Mr. Ezati Francis, told Dokolo Post that being a sports person himself, and with the required players being those over 30 years, he mobilized his teaching and non-teaching staff to participate.
Mr. Ezati said that in such engagements, a feeling of recognition and teamwork yields better results even at school because when a cook, askari, gardener, and teacher are on one team, they all feel part of the working family.
Hon. Ibrahim Aisu, the Pallisa County Member of Parliament, who graced the gala as the Guest of Honour, lauded the organizers and gave them UGX 1,000,000 to help them fill the gaps.
Hon. Aisu said the tournament was interesting and had a positive impact on the business community in Pallisa as people consumed all the food in the established kiosks and bought all types of drinks, including water, soda, beer, and other spirits.
“I am a player myself. I came with my boots but was notified that I was the chief guest and declined to join my team. However, I promise to organize one sports event that is strictly limited to Pallisa County. I encourage teams to get ready right from their villages because the finals will be held in January 2027,” Aisu said.
Aisu recognized the involvement of clubs from other districts such as Busia, Mbale City, Bududa, Kumi, Butaleja, Tororo, and Mbale for being part of the rotational event.
Mark Inyalio, one of the members of the top organizing committee, said the activity needed external support from agencies so that the impact is fully felt.
“As a worker from TotalEnergies, I would like to appreciate our organization for fully accepting to sponsor the gala, and other partners such as Centenary Bank, DFCU Bank, Pallisa Hospital, and the Police for their pertinent contributions in first aid and security, respectively,” Inyalio said.
Mr. Ozimati Robert of Pallisa Hospital Legends and an organizing committee member said the drive of this gala has caused numerous benefits.
“In these games, people donate blood, go for health tests such as HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, sanitation and hygiene campaigns, and counselling free of charge. In doing so, the community gets impressive ownership of the gala,” Ozimati said.
He said all the clubs that participate return home with a glass-sealed certificate of participation duly signed by Okia Lazarus, the Corporate Club President, and Dr. Okoth David, the Pallisa General Hospital Medical Superintendent, who is the patron.
The gala attracted 25 clubs, including Pallisa Hospital Legends, I.M Enterprises, At 9pm Club Mbale, Baylor Uganda, Agule Legends, Ikibaletoko, TotalEnergies Pallisa, District Headquarters Team, Pallisa SS, Baylor Foundation Uganda, DFCU Bank Pallisa, HSD Pallisa, Pallisa General Hospital, Police Pallisa, Mbale Corporate Club, Wazeeyi PRO, Busitema University, Ikibaletoko B, Pallisa Old Timers, Namutumba CC, Bududa CC, Pallisa District Local Government, Kumi Corporates Club, and Busia CC.