Justus Mugisha says Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association has made measurable progress in improving the organisation and reach of school sports, while acknowledging that significant work still lies ahead as he enters his fourth year as USSSA president.
Speaking while reflecting on his tenure, Mugisha pointed to better competition structures and increased participation across the country as key gains registered under his leadership. “We have achieved a lot during this period, especially in improving the organization of school sports and widening participation across the country,” Mugisha said. “However, there is still more that needs to be done for us to fully realize our dream as an association.”
Mugisha credited the Government of Uganda for playing a central role in strengthening school sports, describing government involvement as a critical driver of improved standards and expanded opportunities for learners.
“We thank the government for the support it has given to school sports. This involvement has helped us improve standards and create more opportunities for learners,” he said.
He also highlighted the enactment of the Sports Act as a major turning point that could unlock further growth through stronger governance frameworks. “With the Sports Act now in place, a lot more can be achieved. It gives us a stronger framework to improve management and development of sports in schools,” Mugisha added.
Addressing long standing challenges, Mugisha noted progress in curbing age cheating, which has historically undermined school competitions. He said the introduction of a systematic online athlete registration system has significantly improved accountability and fairness.
“One of the biggest challenges we faced was age cheating, but we have made progress by introducing an online registration system for all athletes. This has greatly improved transparency and fairness in our competitions,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Mugisha expressed confidence that deeper collaboration with government and other stakeholders will enable USSSA to build on current gains and push school sports to higher levels nationwide.
