Fredrick Kiyingi Kinobe, the District Education and Sports Officer, says land set aside for developing school sports facilities is increasingly being abandoned or repurposed for personal gain. He warned that the trend is already affecting the rollout of the government’s new education sports policy, which requires every school to support at least 15 sports disciplines.

“We give land with the purpose of developing sports grounds in schools, but some people have turned their backs on these agreements. This is already affecting our plans and may hinder the national sports agenda,” Kinobe said in an interview with NBS Sport.

Wakiso is widely seen as Uganda’s sports powerhouse, producing top athletes and teams through schools like St. Mary’s Kitende and Buddo SS. But Kinobe fears this legacy is now at risk due to unchecked land grabbing and weak enforcement of school sports development plans.

Kinobe also stressed the need to invest more in primary school sports, saying that many of Uganda’s best athletes are discovered at a young age.

“Primary schools are where talent is discovered and nurtured. If we neglect grassroots development, we compromise the future of Uganda’s sports,” he said.

His call was backed by Wakiso District Sports Officer Brian Ssenyonga, who raised concerns over some schools blocking students from playing sports altogether.

“We have schools that treat sports as a distraction. This mindset must change if we want to grow talent beyond just academics,” Ssenyonga said.

The officials also criticised the government’s current funding for district-level sports programs, which stands at just UGX 10 million per quarter. They say it’s nowhere near enough for a district that plays such a big role in shaping Uganda’s sporting future.

They also raised the issue of regulatory gaps, saying some sports programs in schools are blocked due to lack of official paperwork. Ssenyonga urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to introduce tighter controls and penalise individuals or schools that disregard national sports policy.

The concerns come just weeks before the 2025 National Primary Schools Ball Games Championships, set to begin August 25 at Aringa Secondary School in Yumbe. Officials are hoping the national spotlight on the tournament will reignite attention around grassroots sports and help push for better structures in districts like Wakiso.

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This annual championship is seen as a vital platform for developing grassroots talent and promoting inclusive sports.

All districts, cities, and municipalities are expected to take part and support the games, which cater to both mainstream learners and those with special needs.

The competition will feature under-12 and under-14 boys and girls competing in netball, football, volleyball, handball, woodball, and Special Olympics categories.

For learners with special needs, events include showdown and goalball for the visually impaired, football and netball for the hearing impaired, and boccia and sitting volleyball for those with physical disabilities.

Each district, city, or municipality must ensure their teams are registered with UPSSA upon arrival in Yumbe and will be responsible for their athletes’ transport, feeding, and welfare.

A participation fee of UGX 500,000 is required, alongside a UGX 100,000 accommodation and utilities fee payable to the host school.

Every team must be accompanied by at least two responsible teachers, one of whom must be female, to ensure proper supervision and safety. The host district will manage overall security throughout the event.

A key technical meeting is set for August 27 to finalize rules, regulations, and health protocols. Officials have been warned to strictly follow SOPs from both the health and education ministries. Only bona fide learners will be allowed to compete, and violations will result in disciplinary action.

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