Ahead of next year’s International School Sport Federation (ISF) games, a meeting was held on Wednesday 20th December 2023, at the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) offices chaired by the President Justus Mugisha to brief the representatives of the schools of what will be required of them and the support that will be provided by both USSSA and the government of Uganda through the department of Physical Education and Sports, Ministry of Education and Sports.
The representatives were from the following schools.
Ngora High School, Ntare School, Kawanda SS, Bukedea Comprehensive School, St. Mary’s Boarding Kitende, Kawempe Muslim, Elite High School ,St. Henry’s Kitovu,Kibuli SS,Buddo SS ,St. Noa Girls’ Zana,Nabisunsa Girls ,Namugongo Secondary and Vocational School,Mbogo High School ,Mbogo College School,Kakungulu Memorial School ,Bethel Covenant ,Hope SS Nakirebe,Gombe SS ,Ssaku SS ,Standard High School Zzana,Kinaawa High School Kawempe and Amus College.
There are several championships at next year’s meet, namely; ISF world Schools volley ball championship ,19-29th April in Belgrade Serbia, ISF World Schools Cross Country, May 10-15th May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, ISF World School Football Championship 17-27 2024 in Dalian, P.R China, ISF World Schools Basketball Championship June 23-03 July 2024 in Macao China & ISF World Gymnasia in 23-31st October 2024 Manama City, Bahrain.
“Once the schools/teams agree to travel their accommodation, meals, participation fee and uniforms will be funded by the association (USSSA). There will also be some pocket money to all members of each delegation. Schools will however be required to fund their air tickets”
“We have called you to exchange ideas specifically to know those who can afford and those who cannot afford, because registration for a few disciplines is already on yet to close. Therefore, if you cannot afford let us know earlier so that a school that can afford is given this chance”. Justus Mugisha said.
USSSA President emphasized to the representatives the importance of participating in games at this level which is both a marketing tool and financial gain. For example, Kawempe Muslim Girls and St. Mary’s Boarding Kitende who have just won at the CAF Schools Championship each winning 100,000 US Dollars (Three hundred seventy million) each. The two schools stand a chance to win even more when they play at the continental championship in April 2024.
*Experiences of the schools that participated in ISF games before.
*St. Mary’s Kitende – Mullaje Ronald
“Thank you to USSSA for the support given to us to participate at the CAF Schools in Nairobi, Kenya. We learnt a lot in terms managing teams and also realized that coaches at this level do things differently”.
*Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi explaining the experience of Kawempe Muslim SS at the CAF Schools Championship in Nairobi, Kenya earlier this month.
*Kawempe Muslim SS -Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi
“The girls were mainly senior ones because the championship was Under 14. They were excited by both the accommodation and meals. Thank you (USSSA) for their 100 USD upkeep you have to each of the girls. We promise to work even harder when we go to the continental stage in April 2024”.
Mr. Mugisha also asked the teachers from Kibuli SS, Buddo SS and St. Noa Girls’ Zana on how they managed to travel to Morocco for this year.
*Ssekimwanyi Rashid ,a teacher at Kibuli SS.
“We used various channels to fundraise for the travel but most importantly the Kibuli Old Students Association (KOSA) and the parents contributed heavily to this cause”. Ssekimwanyi Rashid.
“We took two Basketball 3×3 teams to Morocco in February this year. While the girls won a trophy, the boys did not win any game but this was due to the change in weather and food. I advise the students are briefed before they leave Uganda on the food, weather and anything else they may experience”. Marion Atwegyeise, Buddo SS.
The president further explained that at this level schools are at liberty to choose a good student from another school because they participate as countries and not just as schools like at FEASSSA level.
In conclusion the schools were strongly advised against falsifying the ages of the participants and that the information they use to apply for passports must tally with that at National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA).
Mugisha Justus thanked the games’ teachers for the work they do to have schools participate in several USSSA championships and activities for example convincing the school directors and headteachers to stretch their budgets so that schools can participate in games.
