MTN Uganda has announced a Shs 550 million sponsorship for the ninth edition of the Busoga Kingdom Masaza Tournament. The tournament is scheduled to kick off on August 15, 2026, at the Namutumba district headquarters in Busiki chiefdom, with 14 teams representing Busoga’s chiefdoms competing for regional honours in one of Uganda’s premier cultural football competitions.This year’s champions will walk away with Shs 13 million, while the runners-up will receive Shs 9 million. The third-placed team will earn Shs 6 million, with fourth place taking home Shs 4 million.According to John Paul Okwi, MTN Uganda’s manager for sponsorships and events, this year’s edition will feature enhanced incentives aimed at recognising excellence both on and off the pitch.At every match, each team will nominate its outstanding player before the tournament’s Technical Organising Committee selects the overall Player of the Match. The winner will receive Shs 200,000, while the second nominee will take home Shs 100,000.“The MTN Busoga Kingdom Masaza Tournament continues to demonstrate the power of sport to unite communities, nurture talent and inspire positive social change. Through this partnership, we are not only supporting football but also creating opportunities for young people to showcase their abilities, engage their communities and pursue their aspirations,” Okwi said.This year’s tournament will be played under the theme, “Abasadha N’Empango Mukukomya Ekifuna Mabuunda mu Baana Abato,” translated as “Men are the pillars in stopping teenage pregnancy.”Ahmed Osman Noor, the second deputy prime minister of Busoga Kingdom, said the tournament remains an important platform for promoting unity and identifying football talent, while urging organisers to uphold fairness and integrity throughout the competition.“Football brings unity, and when we are together and united, we are always very strong. As we begin this year’s tournament, I call upon our organisers and the Technical Organising Committee to uphold integrity. We want victories earned on the field of play because the Masaza Cup is about discovering talent with discipline. It is also a platform that brings our people together to spread important messages, including the fight against teenage pregnancy. We appreciate MTN Uganda for consistently standing with the Busoga Kingdom in making this tournament a success,” Noor said.Fans will also have several opportunities to win cash prizes during the tournament. Customers who spend at least Shs 5,000 on eligible purchases, including voice bundles, data bundles or merchant payments through designated MTN merchant codes at match venues, will stand a chance to win Shs 50,000 on every match day. Customers who purchase eligible MTN devices during the tournament will also qualify for the same cash reward. Digital engagement will remain a key feature of this year’s competition. Fans attending matches will be encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #MTNBusogaMasaza, with the five most engaging posts made within 24 hours of each match each winning Shs 100,000.MTN will also reward merchants promoting digital payments, with the five merchants recording the highest transaction volumes on every match day each receiving Shs 75,000.In line with the tournament’s theme, halftime activations will feature the Abasadha N’Empango Quiz, where fans will answer questions on the role men can play in preventing teenage pregnancy. One winner at each match will receive Shs 50,000.The post MTN injects Shs 550m into Busoga Kingdom Masaza tourney appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.