Woodball seeks govt support to establish facilities

Uganda Woodball Federation (UWbF) has reiterated the need for sports facilities as they hosted NCS Chairman Donald Rukare and NCS General Secretary-technical at their offices on Friday.

Uganda Woodball Federation president Mark Kayongo flanked by his first and second vice presidents; Vincent Kisenyi and Shahnaaz Luwedde, and General Secretary Collins Ssemanda, asked government through NCS for support not only in the establishment of a standard woodball course but also in the establishment of a woodball factory.

It is evident that one of the most pressing issues that the new National Council of Sports (NCS) board and the government will have to embark on in conjunction with the different federations/associations is the issue of facilities.

"We are grateful to the government, Embassy of China, Ndejje University, the media and all the other stakeholders for their contribution towards our success thus far, but as we start the next phase of developing Woodball our projections are; establishment of a standard woodball course and ensuring the sustainability of woodball through equipment production," Kayongo stated.

"We also appeal for support to primary and secondary schools to acquire equipment, consideration of woodball as a priority sport and hence, be granted an allocation for its annual activities, and establishment of a woodball factory; the Embassy of China donated machinery, we need a factory to house it," he added.

Ssemanda said they require about 7 acres of land for the course and a proposed woodball complex housing woodball offices, a clubhouse, accommodation facilities and a conference hall.

Uganda is the only country in Africa that manufactures woodball equipment and was also tasked to spearhead the growth of the sport on the continent.

Without promising much Rukare said they will be good allies of the UWbF and take up the issues with the powers that be, and also, look into the issue of funding when the funding guidelines that will soon be released are in force.

He commended the federation for their visionary and transformational leadership that has in the last 12 years transformed the sport to international standards.