How 3,500 Kira residents are forging unity

The New Nsasa Community Estate in Kira and Goma Divisions in Wakiso and Mukono Districts respectively is holding games every December to foster unity amongst its 3,500 residents from 700 households across one square mile.

Majority of the residents are middle-class working in the public service and private sector, while a few are self-employed.

The community consists of nine zones, including Pioneer, Central, Teso, Riverside West, Riverside East, Hill View, Zande, Goshen and Green Crest, with each having an average of between 50 and 60 homes and its own leadership.

However, there is a central leadership led by the Supreme Chairperson, Mr Simon Peter Kavuma, which puts together all homes to form the New Nsasa Estate Community.

Mr Kavuma says they came up with the idea to hold these games every December when children are back from school and parents are a bit more relaxed.

This year’s games, which include football, netball, volleyball, tug-of-war, 100 metre races, and five-kilometre run for the parents, and football, bottle filing; sack, egg and bottle races; hula hoops for children, were flagged off by Kira Municipality Mayor, Mr Julius Mutebi.

Mr Kavuma says the households live within boundaries or have perimeter walls, have to wake up early to beat the proverbial Kira-Namugongo-Najera traffic, drop their children at school, get to work, and return home much later in the evening; so, residents never get chance to interact as a community.

“We decided to have these games that are kind of ‘breaking the walls’. We all come together as a community and play games which are a bit mildly competitive but they help us to bond and create camaraderie among ourselves.

“We get to know each other, our children also get a chance to play with one another and get to know each other. Roughly we attract about 200 households, with each paying for five members; so, between 700 and 1,000 members are attracted to the games each year,” Mr Kavuma said at the weekend.

He added: “Last year, we had our inaugural New Nsasa Community games where we organise ourselves in about six zones that compete against one another. The six zones are Pioneer, Central, Teso, Riverside West, Riverside East/Hill View, and Zande/Goshen/Green Crest.”

According to Mr Kavuma, the businesses in the community, including a few schools, are involved to partner in terms of sponsorship to enable them organise the games in a professional way by hiring referees, marshals and different event organisers.

“What these games do in the community is that they tackle similar challenges we have like security, poor infrastructure, and family disorders, and as Africans, it brings back the communal living that our great grandfathers had but with a modern touch,” Mr Kavuma further explained.

At this year’s New Nsasa Community Games 2024 held under the theme: “Where Play Unites Us All”, Zande/Goshen/Green Crest emerged the overall winner, while Central and Riverside came second and third respectively. The winner was awarded a trophy, and the runners’ up received medals.

Ms Adyero Esther Maya and Ms Najjat Mariam from Zande/Goshen/Green Crest zone were recognised for their outstanding performance.

Mr Peter Olwol, a resident of Mparo Dive in Riverside East Zone, said he came to meet other people, residents and get used to everybody. “This is my second year attending,” said Mr Olwol.

Malka Grace Nabwire, 10, a pupil at Namugongo Girls Boarding Primary School, and resides in Riverside East Zone, said she, too, has attended the games for the second time, and described this year’s edition as “fair”.

Business opportunities

Ms Bonita Fauchan, who resides in Teso Zone, says the initiative brings families together, but this time decided to cash in on the vast business opportunities.

“Last year I participated majorly as a cheerleader but saw a business opportunity and this time round, I decided to bring some small business in the form of selling popcorn; the business started on a low note but caught up gradually.”

Ms Maria Onen, a resident of Central Zone, who set up a stall to sell cupcakes, samosas, chapatti, roasted chicken, sausages, juice, said this year was “far better” than last year.