Overview:
Six venues will be used during the tournament and these include; Kawanda SS Playground, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Namalere, Mbogo Mixed SS, Brixton Jokolera, Kawempe Muslim SS and Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium.
- Competition: 2023 UMEA Solidarity Games
- Games: Football (Boys & Girls), Volleyball (Boys & Girls), Handball (Boys & Girls), Table Tennis (Boys & Girls), Racket Games (Boys & Girls), Netball (Girls), Woodball (Exhibition)
- Host school: Kawanda Secondary School
- Venues: Kawanda SS Playground, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Namalere, Mbogo Mixed SS, Brixton Jokolera, Kawempe Muslim SS & Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium
- Dates: Friday, 7th – Easter Monday, 10th April
- Sponsors: Tropical Bank, Nivana water, BUL
- Theme: Environment & Us
It is now duly confirmed that all the Muslim-faith founded schools will once again converge at Kawanda Secondary School for the annual UMEA Solidarity Games over the Easter weekend (7th to 10th April 2023).
The tournament launch was officially held on Wednesday, 5th April 2023 at the host school.
Kawanda S.S head teacher Ahmed Bukenya Kamoga was flanked by the UMEA executive committee officials during the tranquil launch, well attended by the media.
Kawanda Secondary School is extremely proud to be hosts of this year’s edition. We are ready and only waiting for kick off of the games on Friday, we are very ready in terms of accommodation, playing areas, welfare and the rest.
Ahmed Bukenya Kamoga, head teacher – Kawanda Secondary School
Last year we were not ready to organize the games because of the congested calendar of sports events but this time we are very ready to have the tournament that was last held in 2019. This is a special edition because we are hosting it in the month of Ramadan, and everyone going to take part in it will be blessed. The games intended to promote friendship, to create relationship amongst Moslem schools and prepare school teams for regional, national and international duties.
Hajji Twahil Muhammed Kitezaala, chairperson of UMEA Solidarity Games organizing committee
We are happy to confirm that our prestigious UMEA Solidarity Games return this year after overcoming the challenge of COVID-19. We have increased participation and hoping for the best performance from all the participating schools (over 40 schools) with about 100 teams registered across the different sports disciplines.
Hajji Hussein Lwembawo Kyagulanyi, General Secretary of the UMEA Solidarity Games
Theme:
The UMEA Solidarity games this year will embedded along the theme-line; “Environment and us”.
Schools start reporting to the venue on Thursday, April 6, 2023 with action expected to kick off on Good Friday, April 7 until Easter Monday, April 10, 2023.
Venues:
Six venues will be used during the tournament and these include; Kawanda SS Playground, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Namalere, Mbogo Mixed SS, Brixton Jokolera, Kawempe Muslim SS and Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium.
These games were skipped in 2020, 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the entire world.
Games available:
The schools will compete in football (Boys and Girls), Netball (Girls), Volleyball (Boys and Girls), Handball (Boys and Girls), Table Tennis (Boys and Girls) as well as the Racket Games (Boys and Girls).
These Racket games include Badminton. Woodball will also be on the menu for exhibition.
The Opening ceremony will be held on Friday at 2 p.m at Kawanda Secondary School.
The chief guest will be Hajji Ismail Mulindwa, the Director of Basic Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Some schools:
UMEA Games record winners Kibuli Secondary School are tipped to field a big field in almost all the games.
The other notable schools ready to compete favorably include the hosts Kawanda SS, Kawempe Muslim SS, racket games powerhouses Mbogo Mixed, Mbogo High School and Mbogo College, Kasawo S.S, Masaka SS, Kinaawa High School Mugongo, Greenlight, London College, Bulo Parents, Entebbe Parents, Nkoma S.S (Mbale), Kasese Muslim, Welden High School (Mbarara), among others.
Rewards:
There are certificates of participation to schools, students, trophies, medals and other plaques to the outstanding personalities.
Partners:
Long term sponsor Tropical Bank has been joined by Nivana water and Bul among the other partners, on top of UMEA body and the participating schools.
For the 6th time, Tropical Bank are sponsoring the UMEA Solidarity game, meeting the entire budget of medals and trophies to a tune of UGX8m.
BIDCO have provided TShirts to be donned by the organizing committee members as well as a top up of UGX 3m.
Nivana water will quench the thirst of the participants with 150 cartons of water.
This tournament comes at an appropriate timing when the schools are preparing for the different competitions in the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) championships (ball games 1 and 2).
Success stories:
A long catalogue of successful sports personalities across the different games played at the UMEA Solidarity games are well documented.
Notable ones are footballers; Julius Poloto (Kasawo and Kibuli), Allan Okello (Kibuli), Abdul Noor Lukwata (Bulo Parents and Masaka S.S) and others; Netballer Anisha Muhammed (Kibuli S.S) , among others.
