German expert calls for quick completion of training facility

Lange (L) talks to Germany Deputy Head of Mission to Uganda, Joachim Duster, and UOC president William Blick (R) at Lugogo last Friday. Lange conducted a third course aimed at skilling Uganda’s sports federation heads. PHOTO BY Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

All sport. Gunter Lange says the centre in Kapchorwa is unlikely to be ready by 2017 when Uganda hosts the World Cross-country Championships

KAMPALA.

German sports development expert, Gunter Lange, has called on government to fast-track the construction of the High Altitude Centre in Kapchorwa.

While presenting their bid to host the 2017 World Cross-country, Uganda assured the athletics world that the centre would be in place to host visiting teams ahead of the event. However, Lange is now worried that might not be possible unless the concerned authorities up their game. “Work at the centre is moving at a very slow pace.

The road to the construction site is still impassible. The road must be worked on very soon,” Lange said while closing the third National Sports Development Action Plan workshop organised by Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) at Lugogo last Friday.

“We were there a few days ago but struggled to access the site even with a four-wheel drive car,” he said of the centre, located in the mountainous area. “I don’t think any other ordinary big car can deliver construction materials to the site.” Lange, who worked with the Ministry of Education and Sports for four years until 2013, is, however, happy that Ugandan sports federations are making giant strides in development amid several challenges.

“I have never seen federations united like is the case in Uganda,” he said after the two-day workshop that attracted participants from 22 local federations. “This group has gone a long way in identifying the areas in Ugandan sport that need improvement. Federations are also aware of the available opportunities and are willing to work towards a better future.”

The workshop, a follow-up of two others, was part of the Germany-Uganda Sports Cooperation programme.

UOC president, William Blick, praised Germany for their continued support towards Uganda’s sports.

The training centre

The centre will have a hostel, running track, swimming pool and facilities for key disciplines like rugby, basketball, soccer and boxing. State House and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are the main financiers of the project.