Mwase wants swimming on school curriculum

Mar 17, 2020

Despite the coronavirus threat, Mwase wants to ensure the federation’s calendar is completed.

SWIMMING

KAMPALA - Newly appointed Uganda Swimming Federation president Moses Mwase is determined to continue pushing for the swimming agenda following his appointment to the post by the association's executive committee on Monday.

Mwase, 44, who had been serving as general secretary since 2013 and also served as treasurer, among other roles, took over from Donald Rukare, who was recently appointed to chair the National Council of Sports board.

Rukare had served as the swimming federation president for over a decade.

Despite the coronavirus threat, Mwase wants to ensure the federation's calendar is completed and hopes the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are not disrupted as Uganda also prepares to host the CANA Zone 3 Championships late in the year.

But most importantly, he wants to start an initiative with the education ministry and propose that swimming be added to the national curriculum.

"Swimming should be a life skill and should not be looked at as a luxury, or for people to relax.

"FINA has got a special programme called Swim for all-swim for life, which encourages mass participation for people from all walks of life. So we are latching on the programme as USF and pushing it through our masters' campaign, and at the different levels," Mwase said during an interview on Tuesday.

"So at the school level, which is the beginning, we would like the government to agree to work with us by coming up with a curriculum that encourages swimming despite the lack of facilities."

 

Massive task ahead

The new USF added: "We also have a strategic plan that has guided us up to where we are. We hope to continue increasing our thumbprint in Kampala but more importantly outside Kampala. We want everyone to be able to swim.

"I have been in the trenches during everything that needs to be done whenever the need arises. So I feel honoured and humbled to be able to serve at this level; to continue pressing the agenda  for development and taking swimming to greater heights.

"I am grateful and humbled; the task ahead is massive; I didn't expect it  but I'm more humbled by the vote of confidence my colleagues have expressed in me," said Mwase.

He will lead the federation alongside Albert Wasswa, who takes over as general secretary, who will be assisted by Max Kanyerezi (also holding the position of competitions secretary).

The appointees will serve out the rest of the term until the next election in 2021.

The executive will report to the next assembly of the Federation due to sit this Saturday at the Uganda Olympic Committee offices about the new appointments.




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