Uganda Athletics Fédération commends USSSA athletics training camp

The inaugural Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) athletics training camp will officially climax on Saturday, 28th January 2023 in Kampala city.

Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has commended this initiative that lured as many as 75 students from across the different corners of the country.

UAF vice president (administration) Lawrence Kavuma attended the trials for this camp on Friday, 27th January 2023 at the Makerere University sports grounds.

Kavuma was flanked by the USSSA leaders Justus Mugisha (president) and Patrick Okanya (immediate past president).

He praised USSSA for this special programme as he called for more training camps in the coming months of the year.

I am thrilled by the USSSA athletics camp. Uganda Athletics Federation is very happy for what is going on here. We want to strengthen this relationship. This is the future of athletics in Uganda. I call upon more training camps. This is the future of our athletics in Uganda. As Uganda Athletics Federation, we appreciate the efforts of Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA). The future is indeed bright.

Lawrence Kavuma, Vice president Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF)

The head coach of the camp was Raphael Kasajja who was working closely with Justine Bayiga, Ivan Wesonga, Harriet Apolot, Ariokot (Nurse), Opio (physio) and Martin (coach).

USSSA president Mugisha lauded the key stakeholders who helped this camp to move on as planned.

In a special way, he thanked Government for the funding, Uganda Athletics Federation, parents, the students, coaches, management of Old Kampala S.S (provided accomodation), Standard High School Zzana (provided the bus), management of Makerere University (provided the training venue) and the executive of USSSA for embracing the project.

He eludicated the essence of this camp that goes along with achieving objectives of talent identification and development.

The USSSA Athletics training camp is a talent Identification and development programe. This is one of the most important projects that we are having as USSSA. I thank Uganda Athletics Fédération (UAF) for granting us the mandate and coopération. I also thank the department of Physical Education and sports. We are preparing for nationals, regional games (FEASSSA), continental and world schools champions (U-15).

Justus Mugisha, President Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA)

Kavuma also urged the young athletes to remain focused with education and avoid all sorts of sexual acts.

Athletes’ captain Priscilla Akello, a student at Standard High School Zzana appreciated the management of USSSA for the camp opportunity.

I thank USSSA management for planning this training camp as we improve our skills. I thank the coaches who have handled us well throughout the period of the camp. We promise not to give up.

Priscilla Akello, Student of Standard High School, Zzana

Head coach of the camp Rafaeal Kasajja confirmed that the camp will help them to prepare teams for the upcoming competitions.

The USSSA Athletics camp will help us prepare for the national championships, regional (FEASSSA), continental and world events in Brazil.

Rafaeal Kasajja, head of USSSA training camp (Athletics)

Mawa, the USSSA athletics commissionar thanked different stakeholders who in a way or another worked to have the happen.

« I thank Old Kampala Secondary School, Makerere University management for training ground, Standard High Zana for the bus, I thank USSSA for this programme » Mawa revealed.

The camp had 75 students from across the country; 57 of these from secondary schools and the rest primary pupils.

Runners were involved in long distance races, middle distance and field events (jumps, javelin and short put).

Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) is one of the vibrant sports bodies famed for talent identification and nurturing.