Bakkabulindi launches national fitness drive
May 27, 2015
The Ministry of Education and Sports, the Uganda Police and the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Professional Health Instructors Association of Uganda (PHIAU) have launched a fitness drive aimed at keeping all Ugandans fit.
By Michael Nsubuga
The Ministry of Education and Sports, the Uganda Police and the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Professional Health Instructors Association of Uganda (PHIAU) have launched a fitness drive aimed at keeping all Ugandans fit.
The launch will culminate into the first national fitness gala due at Namboole stadium on June 14. It will thereafter be held after every two months in different parts of the country. Participants will pay sh3,000 at the Namboole event.
State Minister for Sports Charles Bakkabulindi in the company of AGP Andrew Sorowen and the Head of non-communicable diseases in the Ministry of Health Dr. Gerald Mutungi, launched the drive on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre.
Addressing the press, Bakkabulindi urged all Ugandans to embrace the exercise and work out regularly so that they don't become a liability to government.
"If you want to spend less on treatment start working out now, if you want to spend less when you are sick start exercising; and you don't need expensive machines, you can do it at home," Bakkabulindi said.
"Our job as a ministry is to ensure the programe rolls out in schools, the Uganda Police will give us security and more instructors so that everyone is on board; government needs productive people that is why we are committed to working with PHIAU who came with the idea and has marketed it to different institutions before it is rolled out," Bakka added.
He said his ministry will soon present a bill that will repeal the NCS act so that physical fitness is included in the new law.
Dr. Gerald Mutungi said as a country we must emphasise prevention of diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancer by encouraging physical activities even in schools without fields.
"We must eat health, avoid alcohol abuse, stop tobacco use and avoid physical inactivity because physical activity prevents many diseases," Mutungi advised.
Sulaiman Fit, a fitness instructor who initiated the programe said they have started the activity in 50 schools in Wakiso and Kampala.
He said the initiative was started about a year ago with an aim of helping government in the creation of jobs and encouraging physical fitness among the youth.
The programme is supported by Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Defence and that of Gender, Labour and social development and the Uganda Police.
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