NCS must increase the country’s priority sports

She Cranes

What you need to know:

The issue: Priority sports
Our view: Once NCS grows the number of priority disciplines, Uganda will have enhanced her chances of producing more world beaters across all disciplines.

The National Council of Sports (NCS) and government have done well to improve sports funding in the country.
Today, soccer, athletics, netball and basketball command a significant share of the sports budget and their results have vindicated the decision to make them priority sports.
Cranes are through to the Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda is going to the Netball World Cup, the male and female national basketball teams are growing in leaps and bounds on the continent while in athletics, the Pearl of Africa is home to some of the most formidable long distance runners in the world.

It is apparent that Uganda is a country with rich sports potential. Talent abounds in various disciplines and, like oil, must be given the right amount of investment to give the country just reward.
It is why government and the NCS ought to grow the pool of sports labelled as priority. And for that to happen, government must increase the sports budget.

Just last week, Ugandan sport reached a new milestone when the country’s junior golfers qualified for the Golf World Cup. It was the first time it has happened - Uganda reaching the Junior Golf World Cup - and it shouldn’t be the last.
It also showed that Uganda is a country rich in talent in the niche sport of golf and in years to come, the golf clubs of Tooro, Entebbe or Serena could be producing stars on the European Tour to rival the world’s best.

But the Uganda Golf Union is not as cash-rich as other sports and the team’s travel to Botswana was funded by GEM’s Cambridge International. It is clear that when the World Cup falls in June, the junior golfers will be in need of money for that trip to Japan.
The Uganda Boxing Federation have been crying for increased funding. It is boxing that has produced Uganda’s most medals at the Olympics as well as world champions in professional ranks.
You can make a justifiable case for rugby, motorsport, cricket and a lot more sports in Uganda, which have worked hard over the years to deserve more money.

Admittedly government has in the last two years increased the sports budget. But the dynamic nature of Sports and it’s demands means it won’t be long before the sector merits another shot in the arm. The Shs17.4b was a welcome figure but to grow the sector to new heights, Sports will need an increment.
Once NCS grows the number of priority disciplines, Uganda will have enhanced her chances of producing more world beaters across all disciplines.