By John Baptist Opua
Sports journalists from across the Lango sub-region convened on the evening of April 21, 2035, at St. Lira Hotel in Lira City under the banner of the Lango Sports Press Association (LASPA), with a shared mission to strengthen the promotion of local sports and develop homegrown talent.
The meeting brought together media professionals from all 10 districts and Lira City, providing a platform to reflect on the current state of sports coverage and identify areas for improvement.
Discussions centered around the role of the media in shaping public perception and driving interest in Ugandan sports.
Sam Ebuk, popularly known as Sam Samu, a vocal advocate for community football and a familiar face in the FUFA Drum competition, urged his colleagues to focus more intently on grassroots football.
“No society can develop until we unleash the potential within our media. We must market Ugandan football wholeheartedly,” he said, calling for deliberate efforts to amplify local narratives through media platforms.
Kenneth Kaunda, director of KK-Cham Sports Centre, echoed similar sentiments, expressing concern over the dominance of European football content in Ugandan sports media.
He criticized sports presenters for prioritizing foreign leagues at the expense of local coverage.
“Some of the content shared in our sports bulletins has absolutely no benefit to our communities,” he remarked, urging a realignment towards national interests.
Deogratious Opio Oguti, also known as “the Brazilian” and serving as LASPA chairperson, emphasized the importance of having an organized and united body of sports journalists.
He advocated for affiliation with the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), noting that such a move would boost recognition and advocacy for sports development in the region.
Meanwhile, Unity FM’s Musifi Sued Blick highlighted the need for ongoing professional development within the sports media fraternity.
He proposed structured capacity-building programs aimed at enhancing journalistic skills, thereby improving the quality of sports reporting and its impact on the growth of local talent.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment by the journalists to use their platforms more intentionally to promote sports within Lango and across the country.
