The just concluded Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA) games in Mbarara came around with special inclusions in the games.

They recorded the biggest attendance in the history books of UPSSA as over 5,000 athletes from 135 local governments (districts, municipalities, and cities) took part.

It also provided an avenue for primary school sports teachers to attain the first levels of coaching and officiating in different sports disciplines.

It was also the first time UPSSA and Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Associations (USSSA) mended a partnership aimed at making a concerted effort to talent identification and development right from the grassroots.

It is from this consorted arrangement between the two that USSSA physically announced her presence by facilitating capacity building for the primary school teachers to get the basic skill in coaching and officiating in different disciplines.

It should be noted that the primary schools are the initial beds of talent and therefore the partnership with USSSA would surely mean a lot for the proper identification, growth, and monitoring of talents.

From the program that lasted for 8 days and conducted by high-level instructors like Fred Mugerwa in netball, a total of 253 graduated as level one coaches and umpires in athletics, volleyball, football, and netball where athletics qualified 30 coaches and 11 officials, volleyball had 22 coaches, football qualified 34 referees and 52 coaches while netball saw 54 attain the coaching certificates with 50 qualifying as umpires.

“This is a big opportunity for you to go and spread the same skill you have learned here, to other teachers in your areas. So go and put into practice the skills you have learned for the benefit of our kids and the entire school communities where you operate,” Said Physical Education and Sports (PES) Commissioner Rev Dr Duncans Mugumya, who officiated at the graduation and awards ceremony.

USSSA president Justus Mugisha assured USSSA’s continued partnership with UPSSA for improved talent identification and development in the country right from the grassroots.