Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Minister Peter Ogwang flags off team Uganda for FEASSA games
Search
Kampala
The Uganda school teams that will take part in the 23rd edition of the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) games in Tanzania were officially flagged off today, Saturday.
Hon. Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang, who was in the company of USSSA President Justus Mugisha, National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Patrick Ogwel, and Grace Abaro, who represented the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports, presided over the flagging-off ceremony.
Ogwang arrives
While addressing the contingent, Ogwang warned that he has been reading between the lines and discovered several hindrances to proper talent identification and development in Uganda, and that he now understands and will act.
He said that part of the problem has been athletes who want to stay on track without thinking of retiring to pave way for younger ones.
He warned federations against going directly to athletes without following the proper channels through the Physical Education and Sports department, which he said they must stop.
Traditional dancers entertain
On the challenge of full funding from government, Ogwang promised that when the AFCON is done, school sports will now be the focus for full funding, as other countries in East Africa do.
Citing the example of Charity Cherop, who won Uganda a gold medal in the 5000m at the ongoing U20 World Championships, Ogwang encouraged the athletes going to Morogoro to take her example and win Uganda medals in the games.
Uganda will be represented by 1,304 athletes from 67 schools, making a total of 127 teams, with 160 primary school athletes and 72 athletes from Special Needs Education.
Uganda are the overall defending champions, having won their fifth consecutive title in the 22nd edition of the games hosted in Kakamega, Kenya, last year.
