Over 500 participants were today passed out as qualified coaches, referees, reporters and first aid specialists by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA). The participants have completed the beginners’ level of each respective sport and discipline.
The body held a week-long course in the various areas for various sports disciplines at Kibuli Secondary School (347 participants), Ntare School in Mbarara (112) and in Lira Town College (96).
“Uganda has set a good precedent of strong performances at the regional, continental and world level,” USSSA president Justus Mugisha said during the closing ceremony at Kibuli.
“But some of our schools have been participating and even winning without qualified coaches. We believe that with these courses, the performances and competitions will improve.
Going forward, it is going to be a pre-requisite that to take part in our competitions, you must have these young trainees embedded in the technical teams of schools,” Mugisha added as he thanked various sports federations for the support.
The chief guest Rev. Canon Dr. Duncans Mugumya, the Commissioner of Physical Education and Sports in the Ministry of Education and Sports, also picked from there to encourage the participants to utilize the knowledge they have acquired.
“Uganda has been facing a challenge, especially in the refereeing area. Usually, most of them have been starting to learn the trade after university”.
By the time they get the necessary qualifications and experience, they are too old. So we have not been getting enough international referees in the country.
*Great opportunities
Now, we have 13 year olds in this training getting their first refereeing certificates. It means that if they get the opportunities to grow, they will advance quite quickly.”
Entebbe Parents’ Nickitah Bukenya is one of the enthusiastic learners in this area and is looking forward to push her school to incorporate her into the games.
“I hope to get even more opportunities in school so I can grow this career,” Bukenya said.
During this training, USSSA also introduced the first aid and injury prevention course.
“What we need to do is educate the coaches back at school mostly on injury prevention. These injuries can come tough the drills that the coaches give so we need very good training in this area.
However, we have learned more things like dealing with sprains, bleeding, drowning, near-drowning among others,” Christine Nabwire, a teacher from Luweero but also with experience in athletics officiating, said.
The training will continue in January 2024.
