Buganda sports minister Henry Ssekabembe has promised to complement the Uganda Cycling Association (UCA) by organizing events from which they can tap in to grow the sport.

Ssekabembe was speaking to the outgoing and incoming Buganda Cycling Committee that has been tasked to grow the sport in the kingdom at Bulange-Mengo on Wednesday.

He said that the kingdom had laid down a firm foundation for cycling to ensure the sport continues to grow and thanked the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) for the support to the event.

“I want to assure you that in the kingdom our work is to work with associations and federations to ensure we complement but not compete with them. Therefore we are ready to ensure discipline, humanity, building capacity, negotiations and listening to each other to ensure the sport makes a ‘business case’ for the sport without in-fighting.”

He pledged to work with all parties to ensure the sport grows nearer to the level of the Masaza Cup (football) in the kingdom. He said he will travel to Rwanda to make a case study of how the sport is run there so as to implement the good things in Uganda.

Buganda Lukiiko Speaker who represented the Katikkiro of Buganda Peter Mayiga thanked the old committee for the job well done and the Buganda Kingdom Sports Minister Henry Ssekabembe for offering good leadership at the top.

“Cycling is a good sport and good for exercise because the whole body and the brain is engaged for the rider so I would encourage more people to join the sport,” Mugumbule said.

Outgoing Buganda Province Cycling Association Chairman Bruhan Ssekibenga who was the pioneer in starting bicycle racing in the country urged the Uganda Cycling Association to immediately start recruiting riders from throughout the country and the different competitions to ensure Uganda gets quality riders for international competitions.

He also advised them to upgrade the association to a federation level so that they can be able to get donations from the international body and to also attract sponsorships. He advised the incoming committee to stay clear of politics and always seek advice from the old committee

“We need associations in the country that will form a federation. Associations can easily spread the sport countrywide as the federation concentrates on other governing issues, Ssekibenga reasoned.

UCA chairman Sam Muwonge said the Bika and Masaza cycling competitions were some of the activities that were held 25 years ago and they will now resume after the minister united the Buganda association with UCA.

Incoming committee chairman Mathias Lukwago said the new committee is tasked to organise racing, tour and expeditions, bodaboda, and leisure races at the level of Masaza, Inter Kingdom, Kabaka Birthday Races, Buganda Tour, and Buganda Championship as they build the profile of cycling in Buganda and Uganda.