Visionary Leap: How Michael Ezra launched Uganda’s first sports academy

Twenty-two years ago, in October 2003, Uganda’s sporting landscape took a bold leap forward with the launch of the country’s first fully-fledged sports academy—an initiative of the Ezra Track Team Board (ETTB).

The man behind the move, sports philanthropist Michael Ezra, was determined to push local sport to “another rung” by creating a facility dedicated not just to training athletes, but also to developing coaches, administrators, and the science of sport itself.

To lead this ambitious project, Ezra appointed Michael Okou, head of Kyambogo University’s Sports Science Department and former Uganda Amateur Athletics Federation (UAAF) organising secretary.

“The appointment was long overdue,” Ezra said at the time. “Besides the academy, his arrival is also a plus in capacity building.”

A Vision for Sports Excellence

Based at Kyambogo, the academy’s vision went beyond the standard youth football programs common at the time. It aimed to combine research, education, and practical training—featuring a conference hall, library, computer room, and a dedicated training ground for hands-on sessions.

Okou was tasked with assembling a team of sports scientists of his choice to run the academy, working alongside ETTB’s technical committee, which included Johnson Kasajja, Martin Okwi, and Josephine Awal.

More Than Just Football

While similar initiatives in Uganda had largely focused on soccer, the ETTB academy embraced multi-sport development and sought to elevate all disciplines. It came at a time when both Kyambogo and Makerere University had established full sports science departments, creating fertile ground for such a project.

Ezra, who was also funding talent development camps in Arua, Kapchorwa, Lira, and Tororo, envisioned strong collaborations with leading academies around the world. The plan included international exchange programs and potential partnerships with the IAAF’s regional development centres, including the one in Nairobi.

Laying a Foundation

The launch of the ETTB Sports Academy marked a significant moment in Uganda’s sports history—a time when the conversation shifted from simply competing to building a lasting infrastructure for talent and knowledge.

It was a statement that sport in Uganda could be as much about science, planning, and education as it was about raw talent and passion.