Dr Kigozi decries poor sports funding
Chief Scout, Dr Kigozi (M) and Uganda Scout Association executive secretary, Richard Okello, exchange documents with UOC president William Blick at Lugogo yesterday. PHOTO BY SANDE BASHAIJA
Kampala- Inadequate funding, lack of facilities and poor talent identification systems are some of the key challenges retarding the development of sports in Uganda, Dr Maggie Kigozi, the former Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, has said.
Dr Kigozi, a retired sportswoman, has also called on parents and sports administrators to allow girls to participate in sports disciplines of their choice.
“Sports is poorly funded by government,” Dr Kigozi said yesterday during a function at which Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and the Uganda Scout Association entered a partnership to promote Olympic values in the country.
Dr Kigozi, the country’s Chief Scout, signed on behalf of the scouts’ body while UOC were represented by their president, William Blick.
“Sports in other countries gets a lot of support unlike here. There are schools in Europe that have as many as 30 playgrounds but in Uganda were are selling off the few that we have,” she noted during the function at UOC premises in Lugogo. “It’s important that facilities are in place if we are to develop sports. For instance, I still play squash once in a while but I have to fight for space with younger players.
There are very few squash courts in the country,” added the physician, who deployed her scouting and karate skills to fight off thugs that raided her house and stabbed her hand early this month. Her hand is still bandaged.
Giving the example of American Tiger Woods, who started playing golf aged three, Dr Kigozi argued that Uganda’s sports authorities need to invest more in young talent.
“We need to tap them young,” said the former tennis player before digging in on women in sports. “We need to encourage girls to do sports. Let the girls have their choice. Who says girls can’t play rugby because it’s rough?” she queried.
As the Uganda Scout Association celebrates 100 years of existence in August, UOC will use the platform to promote Olympism and recruit more youth into sports. The centenary celebrations, due August 18-28 at Kaazi Camping Site, will attract over 10,000 youth from all over the world.
UOC will assign coaches of different sports disciplines to train the youth during the jamboree at Kaazi.
“This is quite a huge number of youth. We must make use of the opportunity to impact on the country’s sports sector,” Blick said. “We also intend to apply for funding from IOC (International Olympic Committee) to train scouts leaders in sports management.”
