The highly anticipated State of Ugandan Sport symposium has kicked off today morning at the Next Media Park, igniting deep and candid conversations on the structural gaps, policy failures, and leadership challenges facing the country’s sports sector.
In a live televised opening panel hosted by NBS Sport’s John Vianney Nsimbe at 10 am, the spotlight was turned on Sports Policy and Governance, with three panelists bringing diverse insights.
Sports lawyer Timothy Kaija, Dance Sport Federation Secretary General Barnabas Sebuyungo, and KCCA Volleyball Club Head Coach Shilla Omuriwe Buyungo were the panelists available.
In their discussion, the panelists examined Uganda’s broader sports ecosystem; spanning football, rugby, netball, athletics, and basketball, and questioned whether the recently enacted National Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is doing enough to drive professionalism, funding equity, and good governance.
Kaija called for a culture shift in how stakeholders interact, urging better dialogue and collaboration. “I would like at the end of the two days that we will listen to each other more,” he said, noting that the Sports Act was long overdue.
“What we had in the past was a pre-colonial law. But now, it’s a billion-dollar industry, and we needed to catch up.”
Sebuyungo agreed, stressing that Uganda can no longer afford to treat sport as an afterthought. “This two-day symposium should be able to set the pace for Ugandan sport,” he said.
He also challenged the sector to start thinking about return on investment. “It’s not just a matter of who receives what or how much they get. There should be returns to investments.”
Perhaps the most telling contribution came from coach Shilla Omuriwe, who confessed she had been unaware of the existence of the Sports Act until recently.
“I will be honest that I didn’t even know there was an act I was working under. I was only focused on improving athletes. The law needs to be interpreted to the layman.”
Her statement highlighted a key concern echoed throughout the panel, the disconnect between policymakers and ground-level practitioners like coaches and athletes, and the need to make policy accessible and actionable for all involved in sport.
The morning session also reviewed Uganda’s current sports governance structures, calling for increased transparency, leadership capacity, and institutional accountability if Ugandan sport is to grow beyond its existing potential.
Running under the theme “Bridging the Gap”, the symposium continues through Wednesday, offering a rare platform for athletes, administrators, investors, and government officials to align on a shared vision for sport.
At midday, discussions shifted to the topic of Talent Identification and Grassroots Programs, moderated by Jermaine Egesa, with Jibe Kalule and Hellen Buteme adding their voices on how to strengthen talent pathways across the country.
Later this afternoon, a high-powered panel hosted by Mark Ssali will examine Uganda’s readiness to host CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027.
FUFA President Moses Magogo, football investor Jonard Asiimwe, and Aggrey Ashaba, Chairperson of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, will weigh in on infrastructure, CAF compliance, financing, and talent development, all crucial to delivering successful tournaments.
