Greed blamed for setbacks in school sports

Sports teachers and school administrators in Uganda have been cautioned against greed and the mismanagement of school sports, with officials warning that the new sports law will soon catch up with offenders.

The warning was issued by Gilbert Orikiriza, the physical education officer in the Physical Education and Sports Department at the Ministry of Education and Sports, during the closing ceremony of a sports administration and management course at Ntare School on January 29, 2025.

Presiding over the ceremony, Orikiriza highlighted that one of the biggest challenges affecting the development of school sports is the manipulation of results by some administrators in pursuit of personal success.

“Greed has killed our sports events because many of you want quick results, so you will do everything to ensure you get to your satisfaction,” Orikiriza said.

However, he was quick to warn that those who fail to change their ways will soon face the consequences under the new law.

“I am telling you we are not seated and the sports act is talking. You field an ineligible player, you have to go to jail. It goes to the head teachers, although some are innocent and holy, but they have to look at how to sort this mess through the games teachers and the coaches,” he stated.

Physical education officer Gilbert Orikiriza (in blue suit and seated) with other officials and participants after the course.

President Museveni assented to the new National Sports (Amendment) Bill into law on January 27, 2025, making it a legal reference for sports governance, including measures to curb impersonation in sports.

Patrick Okanya, the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) capacity building coordinator, expressed satisfaction with the turnout in Mbarara and affirmed USSSA’s commitment to extending the training to zones and districts.

The three-day course, titled Sports Management and Administration, was organised by USSSA in collaboration with the Physical Education and Sports Department. Its objective was to equip teachers with essential sports administration and management skills to enhance school sports in Uganda.

Participants received training in areas such as sports facilities management and maintenance, safeguarding, sports laws and USSSA regulations, institutional versus individual governance, and branding and marketing. The sessions were conducted by Deo Mutabazi, Dr Vincent Sajjabi, and Johnbosco Omaria.

The training attracted 123 primary and secondary school teachers, as well as head teachers, from the four zones of Kigezi, Rwenzori, Bunyoro, and Ankole, the host region. At the end of the course, participants were awarded certificates of attendance.