With the State of Ugandan Sport Symposium fast approaching, Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) President Robert Jjagwe has added his voice to the growing chorus demanding a transformation in the way Ugandans engage with local sports.
Jjagwe, speaking ahead of the two-day event scheduled for the 17th and 18th of next month at Next Media Park, stressed the urgent need to “localize” sport.
He called on Ugandans to shift their loyalty from foreign football clubs to local teams and athletes, arguing that continued obsession with overseas teams offers no tangible benefits to the country.
“If I was in charge of the sports sector in Uganda, the most important thing that I would do is to localize Ugandan sport because it’s the missing element,” Jjagwe said.
“We don’t need to see our countrymen sitting to watch foreign teams like Arsenal and Manchester United which doesn’t add any value to them.”
Jjagwe believes that the emotional and financial investment of Ugandans in their own athletes is critical for sustainable growth in the sector.
He underlined that progress will remain limited unless the public rallies behind homegrown talent.
He also applauded NBS Sport for its consistent media coverage of local sporting events, highlighting its pivotal role in both spotlighting success and addressing gaps in the system.
As an example, he cited the recent Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSA) games in Bukedea, where controversy surrounding the participation of St. Mary’s Kitende lacked visual evidence, an issue he said could have been resolved with stronger media presence.
“The media is vital in shaping the narrative and ensuring transparency. Platforms like NBS Sport help us celebrate, scrutinize, and improve,” Jjagwe noted.
The upcoming symposium, to be broadcast live on NBS Sport, Uganda’s only 24-hour sports television channel, will convene stakeholders for in-depth discussions on how to redefine the future of Ugandan sport.
