Mugisha calls for athletics revival in Ugandan schools
Speaking on the challenges facing the sport, Mugisha pointed to the limited availability of bursaries as a key barrier preventing talented student-athletes from developing.
Mugisha calls for athletics revival in Ugandan schools
Justus Mugisha, president of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), has called for urgent action to revive athletics in schools, citing a decline in performance below expected standards.
Speaking on the challenges facing the sport, Mugisha pointed to the limited availability of bursaries as a key barrier preventing talented student-athletes from developing.
“Our performance in athletics has been below expectations. Our assessment shows many talented athletes rely on bursaries to access education and sports opportunities, but very few schools currently provide them,” Mugisha said.
He explained that the shortage of scholarships makes it difficult for schools to identify and nurture promising athletes.
“Without bursaries, it becomes difficult for them to stay in school and continue developing their talent,” he added.
To address this, USSSA is shifting focus toward increasing competition at the zonal level. The aim is to give athletes more regular competitive opportunities ahead of the national championships.
“Each zone should organise two athletics meets before the national championships. We will support zones that have included these events in their calendars with one million shillings,” Mugisha announced.
The initiative is expected to strengthen talent identification and help rebuild the athletics development pathway within the secondary school system.
The call for a renewed focus on athletics follows the successful conclusion of the USSSA Elite Schools Championship 2026, held earlier this month at Janan Secondary School. The tournament brought together top schools competing across multiple disciplines.
In rugby sevens, Nkoma Secondary School won the girls' title while London College topped the boys' category. In handball, Gombe Secondary School dominated by winning gold in both the boys' and girls' competitions. In basketball, St Mary's Boarding Secondary School Kitende lifted the girls' five-a-side title while Buddo Secondary School won the boys' championship.