Optimism aplenty for the future of gymnastics in Uganda

Is Uganda prepared to embrace gymnastics? This is a question that often crosses the minds of aspiring local gymnasts who are not yet professionals.

However, according to Harriet Ayaa, President of the Gymnastics Association of Uganda (GAU), the country is fully prepared for the sport despite its high costs.

“Uganda is a nation that is still low on expertise in gymnastics based on the expensive nature of the equipment. Still, we are making amends by capitalising on the disciplines where we have a comparative advantage,” Ayaa stated.

Uganda is actively taking on aerobics gymnastics, parkour, and gymnastics for all artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

Despite the expensive nature of some disciplines like rhythmic and artistic, the association believes with the reception of the equipment grant made by the World Gymnastics president Morinari Watanabe worth sh3.6b, it will manage.

However, Uganda is opting for disciplines like parkour where comparative advantage is in play because it has just been incorporated into FIG.

Uganda won a medal at the first-ever world parkour championship in Japan in 2022.

“We are set to have our centre of focus put into the disciplines where we can win at both continental and world stages,” she added.

Watanabe is set to return to Uganda for a FIG presidential commission and executive committee meetings from February 26-29 at Munyonyo.

Ayaa believes that Watanabe’s return will enable GAU to lobby FIG through the Commission of Developing Nations at FIG where she also happens to be a member.