The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) and Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA) have come together to strengthen sports talent identification and development in the country.

Over the years, the two associations have been staging national competitions differently without cohesion.

But on Wednesday a milestone was reached by the two associations, after a collaboration meeting at USSSA offices in Kampala.

Some of the UPSSA representatives during a collaboration meeting with USSSA

With UPSSA president Pauline Musigire leading his side and Justus Mugisha on the steering of the USSSA fraternity, an agreement was reached that the two become a united entity when it comes to school games organisation.

Mugisha outlined the cause for collaboration with the primary association as aimed at creating a strong school body, bridging the gap between primary and secondary school sports, and making a uniform development of human resources and rules and regulations in school sports, among others.

“We at USSSA first organised ourselves before the government started supporting us financially, so we are here to guide and support you to reach the same level,” said USSSA president Justus Mugisha.

Assistant Commissioner of PES Sam Odong thanked the two associations for coming together for a good cause.

During last year’s national UPSSA games in Mbarara, USSSA extended its support to UPSSA in areas of online registration, and capacity building where 253 teachers trained as umpires and coaches as well as dressing of the organising committee.

UPSSA president Pauline Musigire expressed his delight with the coming on board of USSSA, saying it will lift the association.

“We appreciate USSSA and no doubt we are learning from the best, and with time, we will be able to do all of this on our own,” he said.

Musigire emphasised that the passing of athletes as eligible to play at primary games after measurement of height and weight will stop and that only U12 and U14 will compete with U16 stopping and that registration will be done online using the Learner's Identification Number (LIN) for each pupil.