After a spirited opening day marked by frank dialogue, big promises, and bold ideas, the State of Ugandan Sport Symposium enters its second and final day today, Wednesday, June 18.
Hosted by NBS Sport at the Next Media Park, the symposium continues under the theme “Bridging the Gap”, pushing forward the conversations that started yesterday around policy, investment, infrastructure, and athlete development.
If day one was about identifying gaps, day two is set to explore how to fill them.
The day kicks off at 10 am with a live broadcast on NBS Sport focusing on Financial Literacy and Career Transitioning for athletes, an area often overlooked in Uganda’s sporting discourse.
Hosted by John Vianney Nsimbe, the first panel will feature Sharif Bwogere and Apollo Mbowa, the Senior Manager of Financial Literacy and Mass Education at NSSF Uganda.
They will explore how athletes can better manage earnings during their careers and transition smoothly into life after sport.
This session promises to share not just expert insight but also real-life experiences from former athletes who’ve walked that path.
The second panel, hosted by Sera Yaweh and featuring Allen Namiya, Mariam Nakamanya, and Josiah Sempeke, will shift the spotlight to Fitness, Health, and Mental Wellness.
The discussion will underline the importance of consistent support systems for athlete wellness, covering physical fitness, mental health, and holistic well-being.
With Uganda’s sporting legends often raising concerns about athlete neglect, these conversations will likely resonate across the board, and could influence future policy recommendations.
From 1:30 pm to 2 pm, Ian Mutenda and Sera Yaweh will host an outdoor recap session reviewing highlights from both day one and the morning’s discussions.
The afternoon session, running from 2:30 pm to 5 pm at the Next Conference Centre and broadcast live on both NBS Sport and NBS TV, will feature two powerful panels.
The first, hosted by Jermaine Egesa, focuses on The Sponsorship Landscape in Ugandan Sport.
A panel of industry leaders including John Paul Okwi (MTN Uganda), Eric Malinga (NBL), Viola Mboneka Rusoke (Hariss International), and representatives from Plascon Uganda will explore the current challenges in attracting and sustaining sponsorships.
Expect candid assessments of what is working, what’s broken, and what needs to change.
As Uganda’s sporting industry aims to move from donor dependence to commercial viability, this session could provide a roadmap for future private sector partnerships.
The second and final panel of the day and the symposium will be moderated by Andrew Kabuura
focusing on the topic of “Building a Sustainable Sports Ecosystem.”
Panelists include UN diplomat and co-founder of Elite Soccer Academy Roza Malango, Pyramid Sports Agency director Brian Masaba, youth football administrator Kennedy Mutenyo, and CEO of JKA Academy CEO Joe Kigozi.
They will take on the big-picture issues: grassroots capacity building, youth inclusion, professionalisation, branding, governance, and fan engagement.
The goal is to identify actionable steps for stakeholders across the board, from federations and government, to media, investors, and communities.
Day one of the symposium was about listening, confronting realities, and acknowledging gaps in policy awareness, funding structures, and athlete support.
Day two promises to be about building: building resilience, commercial viability, and systems that last.
