The State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, has lashed out at Kigezi region leaders and those in Kabale in particular, for neglecting sports, especially athletics, when the region has similar conditions to Kapchorwa which has become a talent hub for athletics.

Ogwang expressed his displeasure while officiating at the closing ceremony of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) ball games II at Kabale Municipal Grounds on Monday.

The tough-speaking Ogwang could not hide his anger towards the area leaders and school heads, after watching runners from other regions dominate the nine-day championships.

“I am really shocked and embarrassed to see that the whole of Kigezi region and Kabale in particular, had no runners in this championship. This is not right. Kapchorwa and Kabale/Kigezi are both at high altitudes. What is the difference between Kabale and Kapchorwa? It is a shame that we are here in Kabale, but watching other runners with none from Kabale,” Ogwang said.

The minister then ordered a meeting with all the school heads in the Kigezi region, which he said he will help identify the problem behind the dismal performance.

“I ask USSSA to provide me with a list of those schools across the country that are denying children the opportunity to participate in sports, simple, so I start from there. I am coming back here to challenge you leaders of Kabale and Kigezi as a region, I will meet all of you heads of schools on this matter. It is a shame that we are here but with no athlete from this area, participating in this championship,” Ogwang said.

The minister also emphasised that the use of ineligible athletes by some schools is an offence that the ministry will fight against.

“I urge all school sports stakeholders to disallow the usage of questionable officials in our games and also, you should know that our fight against ineligible athletes has just started. For example, I have asked for the details of some of the athletes whom I watched running because I saw some of them are beginning to be my age mates, for they could not match the pace of our children.

“So, I call upon you again, once the new sports law is assented to by the President, it will criminalise the use of non-students participating in school sports,” Ogwang said.

Standard High Zzana, St Mary’s Kitende and Kawempe Muslim emerged as the biggest winners of the championship that attracted 7000 athletes competing in 13 disciplines of netball, 3x3 basketball, volleyball, handball, rugby 7s, football U14, football U16, dance sport, beach soccer, beach volleyball, woodball, lacrosse and athletics.  

The best teams from this championship, in addition to the ones from the USSSA boys’ football in Fort Portal and Fresh Diary games in Mbarara in May, qualified to represent Uganda at the coming FEASSSA games in Huye, Rwanda in September.