Women stakeholders to hold sports conference
Top of Africa: Africa netball queens the She Cranes are sure to be among the reference points during the workshop. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
Sports stakeholders are set to gather for a one-day Women and Sport Conference to address the challenges faced by female athletes in Uganda with an objective to suggest solutions on February 22 at Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala.
The all-important symposium – the first of its kind - is targeting a conversation involving current athletes, coaches, administrators, retired players, government and the media among others on key topics on leadership, safe space, research and the role of the media in covering women in sport.
“While appreciating what the women can do in the promotion of sports, they are in most cases underutilized in all spheres. So this conference is aimed at forging a way of increasing the involvement of women in sports at all levels and in all functions and roles,” explained Peninnah Kabenge, the head of university sport in Uganda.
She added: “We hope that the conference will review that factors causing the imbalance, create awareness about women’s role in sport and define future priorities to promote women in sports.” Only five associations out of 48 in Uganda are led by female presidents including handball, hockey, netball, university sport and volleyball.
Uganda are the reigning African netball and cricket champions while the Lady Rugby Cranes were first runners-up at the continental showpiece last year in Zimbabwe. The Crested Cranes finished second at the 2018 CECAFA Women’s Championship in Kigali in July and were third at the COSAFA tournament in South Africa last September.
“The conference is a great opportunity to empower, educate and share best practice to build stronger brands.
“It will assist us in being solution driven as well as know the challenges we face now the focus is solutions and strategies to build and grow,” Nomsa Mahlangu, Director of Sport at the University of Johannesburg and CAF General Coordinator and Match Commissioner.
Former 3000m steeplechase world champion Dorcus Inzikuru, who has been the face of Ugandan women in sport for over a decade, She Cranes captain Peace Proscovia who is the 2019 Netball World Cup ambassador and professional footballer player with QPR in England Jean Sseninde are some of the top sports personalities who will be part of this forum.
