Senior Reporter
Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary football team have called on the government to consider constructing football stadiums in every region to promote sports nationwide.
This appeal was made during a friendly match against Nyakagabagaba Football Club, the winners of the Dr. Sylvia Tumuheirwe Alinaitwe Football Tournament, held at Kamwezi playground in Kamwezi sub-county, Rukiga District. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and drew thousands of spectators. Additionally, the Parliamentary netball team narrowly lost to the Rukiga District Select netball team by 12-13.
Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, Member of Parliament for Bugiri Municipality, stressed that football talent cannot thrive without proper facilities and adequate support for athletes. He noted that although Parliament has allocated funds for the development of Akii Bua Stadium in Lira District and Hoima City Stadium, every region needs a major stadium to elevate sports from the local to the national level.
He added that countries with advanced sports sectors have standardized facilities, and it is difficult to identify and nurture young talent if they risk injuries on substandard pitches.
Hon. Basalirwa also highlighted the potential economic benefits of investing in sports, suggesting that talented individuals could earn significant incomes from their skills.
Hon. Karim Masaba, Member of Parliament for Mbale Industrial City Division, supported the call for government investment in local sports to nurture and develop talent. He mentioned that observations and reports from Rukiga would inform their discussions in Parliament.
Hon. Roland Ndyomugyenyi Bish, Member of Parliament for Rukiga County, urged Rukiga LC5 Chairman Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere to ensure that Kamwezi Playground is upgraded to better standards to support youth talent development. He also encouraged district residents to remain united and focused, avoiding early politicking to ensure progress.
Dr. Sylvia Tumuheirwe Alinaitwe, Deputy Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, encouraged residents to embrace sports for health benefits and income generation.
As the chief guest at the event, Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, stated that sports foster unity and friendship in society and urged players to aim for the national team. She also encouraged leaders to extend the unity seen in sports to government programs for the benefit of all Ugandans.
