National Council of Sports completes Northern and Eastern Tour

On 26th March 2023, the National Council of Sports (NCS) led by Chairman Ambrose Tashobya embarked on a tour of the Northern and Eastern Regions of Uganda.

The team comprised the Board Members, the General Secretary Dr Benard Patrick Ogwel, his assistant David Katende and the technical team.

A trip that took five working days started in Gulu where they visited sports facilities. The first ground to be visited was the Pece Stadium. Some of the other grounds visited included the Kawunda grounds, Boma grounds, Teryet High National Training Grounds, Mbale Stadium, Akii Bua, and Soroti University.

Consultative meetings with District leaders and Sports leaders in each Sub-Region were held and during the meetings, Tashobya emphasized the need to protect the Sports land from encroachers of the facilities as he had earlier noticed especially at the Kawunda and Boma grounds.

The Ex-Basketballer player tasked the leaders to get copies of the land titles to these grounds and gazette it for Sports development. A grand plan for the sports grounds was shared with these leaders. He also reminded the leaders that the development of these grounds not only benefits the region but the whole of the country. He as well hinted at the Memorandum of Understanding NCS has with the Uganda Investment Authority that is targeted to attract Investors into the Sports Sector.

In his speech, the General Secretary pointed out the challenge to maintain these grounds. He also emphasized the Government’s commitment to complete the construction of Pece and Akii Bua Stadiums.

The District leaders were left with a task to find land for sports development not less than 11 acres no later than 30th June 2023. This land is to be gazetted for sports development. Also, they were requested to set up or revamp District Sports Councils as these are to be in direct and constant communication and close work relationship with NCS.

“The challenge in the country is the maintenance of public grounds,” said Ogwel. “Districts need to pronounce their sports land to the government, gazette it and get titles for sports land,” he added.

In attendance at the meetings (some of which went past sunset) were the Political leaders from the districts led by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) or their representatives, The LC5, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), District Education Officers and the District Sports Officers.

District Education Officers were requested to use the new curriculum to their advantage to improve sports in schools and identify talent. The leaders were positive towards the message and promised to work hand in hand with NCS to deliver their mandate. They promised to identify the land, title it and gazette it for Sports Development.

Sports equipment which included some footballs, netballs and volleyballs was given at the end of each meeting and more was promised.