Bakkabulindi wants cricket in continental games

By Norman Katende

State sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has appealed to the Africa Cricket Association to apply to be included in both the Commonwealth and All Africa Games as a way of furthering talent and competition.

The call was made as the minister opened the Africa Cricket Association annual congress that took place at Hotel Africana on Saturday. It was the first time that the congress, that attracted delegates from 13 countries, was held outside Africa.

“Cricket is a big sport and what you have to do is to officially apply that it is included in the continental games and also Commonwealth Games. This will boost its development and also will attract more countries to the games. I am positive they will second it,” said Bakkabulindi at the one-day meeting.

Bakkabulindi was happy to note that Uganda is fast being recognised as a fair destination for sports bodies, and asked Uganda sports body to use these to see that they bid for international events.

“We hosted the Africa Cross Country, World University cross country and now the Africa Cricket Association. This is in less than a month. The fact that administrators have started believing that Uganda is a good host should be a spring board for us to bid for different international events,” said Bakkabulindi at the congress.

Richard Mwami, the chairman of Uganda cricket was positive that what has been started by Uganda cricket past leaders is still growing and that is why the vote of confidence.

“We are proud that the delegates will be looking at our improving game. We are looking at having two cricket grounds at Kisubi which are owned by the association under the sponsorship of the international body and our women cricket was voted as the best development programme on the continental. All these give us an urge to even perform better,” said Mwami.