USPA crowns outstanding sporting juniors from three years

Ugandan sportsmen and women have been advised to prepare for their retirement.

Speaking at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF)-USPA junior awards on Friday at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, NSSF Public Relations Manager Victor Karamagi accompanied by PRO Sandra Nabweteme urged the young sportsmen to plan for their retirement.

"We believe in the future of Ugandan sport and we hope to invest more going forward. We think our sportsmen and women deserve the support so that when they retire they do it comfortably. The career of a sports personality is limited. The question is have you prepared yourself to retire comfortably, Karamagi.

Karamagi ‘s remarks came shortly after USPA and their partners NSSF crowned the best junior athletes from the year 2015, 2016 and 2018.

The minors were not crowned during the previous Nile Special USPA annual Galas because of the USPA and Nile Special policy of not associating children below 18years with alcohol.

Notable among those that were crowned were; motocross stars Aviv Orland and his sibling Stav Orland, Kirabo Namutebi and Tracy Naluwooza.

The youngsters were awarded for excelling in 2015 in; badminton (Naluwooza), cycling (Hassan Ssekanga), swimming (Rebecca Ssengonzi and Joshua Ekirikubinza), Hockey (Winnie Alaro).

Namutebi (swimmer), Nicholas Malani (male swimmer), Doreen Asiimwe (female hockey player), Aviv Orland (motocross rider) and Brian Kasirye (male badminton player) were crowned for their outstanding performance from the 2016 season.

L-R: Stav Orland, Tracy Naluwooza, Kirabo Namutebi, Doreen Asiimwe, Aviv Orland, Winnie Alaro, Immaculate Nakisuuyi, and Stephanie Nampiina pose with their USPA-NSSF awards at Imperial Royale Hotel, January 10, 2020. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

From 2018, Stav Orland (motocross rider), Ambala Atuhaire (male swimmer), Namutebi (swimmer and Immaculate Nakisuuyi (female cricketer) also got awards from the brief breakfast awards ceremony held at the Imperial Royale Hotel.

National Council of Sports (NCS) chairman John Bosco Onyik who was the chief guest took time to warn underperforming federations to up their game.

"This year we shall only support federations that are running activities and which can meet 75% of their costs," Onyik said before urging the federation executives to go out and look for corporate sponsorships.

"I'm happy that NSSF is working with USPA and this is what we want; federations that are very active, organise activities and look for sponsors are worth supporting. Its true government has money but it won't be put to waste," he added.

USPA president Patrick Kanyomozi hailed NSSF for coming on board to sponsor these awards while Hadijah  Namanda, Uganda Volleyball Federation president who is the mother of 14-year-old swimmer Kirabo Namutebi, who spoke on behalf of the parents of the youngsters advised them to always work harder in order to achieve more.