MASAKA – Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports as well as the Federation of Uganda Football Associations to quickly respond the enthusiasm being showed by the young ladies participation and skills in playing football like their male gender counterparts especially in the rural areas.
While closing the annual Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi Youth Sports Tournament in Bukoto Central County in Masaka district at St. Pius Primary School Buliro playground in Kyesiiga sub-county on Sunday, the Vice President said that football is the most sought and watched sporting event which must not leave female youth behind and urged football officials in the country to quickly start girl footballing academies and tap from their potential and unexploited talents.
The Vice President paid tribute to the Chief Executive Officer Xabo Group of Companies, Dr. David Alobo, a German-based Ugandan, for co-funding the sports gala that has enabled the youth to unite in both social and economic activities.
Ssekandi said that sports play a key role in keeping our bodies healthy which boosts the fight against the current trend of non-communicable diseases like obesity, gout among others.
The CEO Xasbo Group of Companies Dr. David Alobo said that he was happy with the participation of the youth under their umbrella organization Bukoto Central Youth Link in value addition of the Buyasso Coffee factory that he set up for them and hoped to see their branded Buyasso coffee from kyanamukaka on international markets in Europe or at beverage cafes like at Parliament in Kampala.
Dr. Alobo commended the Vice President for his spirited outsourcing efforts to boost the well-being of his electorate and pledged more funding to his development initiatives that he champions around the country.
The Speaker of Kyesiiga Subcounty Bbaale Mudasiru said that Bukoto Central Constituency continues to attract both national and international fame in all fields and thanked the Vice President for causing transformation in the area.
Bbaale Mudasiru thanked the youth from kyessiga for their concentration and determination which made them victorious in all events this year from male football, women football, netball, 10km bicycle racing, and only lost the 4.8km water-filled nonstop jerrican race.
Beatrice Oling who flagged of the bicycle race and the jerrican weight lifting race said the event caused might excitement among the people and further pledged to improve the event in coming years.
The winners in football both male and female received 500,000/= a new set of jerseys and three footballs and gold medals, the netballers received 400,000/= and new kits, the winner of the bicycle race received 300,000/=.
About 1000 youth from Kyesiiga, Kabonera and Kyanamuka sub-counties have directly and indirectly participated in the year-long sports gala.
The runner ups and the tournament referees and arbitrators who were led by Sserunjogi Moses the referee of the finals match also received cash prizes.
