Nuwagaba's legacy will be everlasting

Stephen Kiprotich seemed dazed as Godfrey Nuwagaba's body was being taken to its final resting place on Saturday.

He stood motionless as if finally hit by the reality that his mentor was gone.

"It is a huge loss to me, I don't know how I will overcome this," said Kiprotich afterwards.

With both his parents now dead, Kiprotich looked to Nuwagaba as not only a mentor but also a father.

"In 2006 when I seemed to have lost everything he embraced me as a family member. This was long before I became an international star. That's what they call true love."

Indeed with his mentorship Kiprotich went on to win gold at the 2012 London Olympics. That this was Uganda's first gold in the prestigious quadrennial games said volumes.

The following year he sparkled again winning the World Championships thereby becoming our most successful athlete.

It is a similar story to numerous other sportsmen including another star Moses Kipsiro.

I later discovered that Nuwagaba's generosity as a manager stretched to football. As games master of Standard High School in 1999 he started the school's football team.

The team was regular in Federation of Uganda Football Association competitions. Under Nuwagaba's stewardship the team was at one point just a match away from a Uganda Super League appearance.

National team stars like Hassan Wasswa, Vincent Kayizzi, Patrick Ochan, Mike Mutyaba and Joseph Kabagambe were some of his products.

Several people on Saturday also gave testimony of his assistance in their education. He annually offered scholarships to outstanding students.

What hurt most of them, was that just when they thought it was time to show their appreciation, he suddenly passed on.

"I have started earning money. I was indeed preparing to get him a gift and now this," cried upcoming athlete Halima Nakaayi.

That was Nuwagaba.

In his quest for development of sports and education, he touched the lives of many.

Is it therefore surprising that even the head of state took note of his industry? President Yoweri Museveni in a message read out for him described Nuwagaba as a true patriot.

Of course, in these nation building efforts Nuwagaba also made a fortune. His links with for instance Dutch company Global Sports Communication as local manager of many of the star athletes was well paying.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. Effort must be rewarded. The bottom line is that Nuwagaba genuinely loved sport and invested in its development.

That's not the case with many of our sports administrators today. Many are in the industry to grab out whatever they can.

Very many sports administrators have grown rich from robbing from the industry.

Just imagine if every sport in Uganda was run by people of Nuwagaba's integrity, it would be raining medals here.