By Kabuye Ronald
On Sunday, 18 August 2024, President Yoweri Museveni officially inaugurated the 21st Edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games. The prestigious event, which will run until 27 August 2024, is hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College School in Bukedea District. This marks Uganda’s seventh time hosting the intercontinental secondary school sports competition.
The games have attracted over 3,000 participants from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan, showcasing a vibrant display of athletic talent from across the region.
At the launch, President Museveni also presided over the commissioning of the Bukedea Comprehensive Sports Park, a newly constructed multipurpose sports stadium funded and developed by Speaker Anita Among. The President praised Among for her industrious approach and effective development of the stadium, which he noted was achieved at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner.
Museveni urged other leaders to follow Speaker Among’s example in promoting regional development through similar initiatives. “I want to thank the Rt Hon. Anita Among who developed this stadium at a reasonable cost and quickly. This should serve as an example for other regions to emulate so that they can develop stadiums in other parts of the country,” Museveni said.
The President also highlighted Speaker Among’s role in easing relations between the executive and legislative branches of government. He commended her for being a proactive and effective leader, contributing to a smoother collaboration between Parliament and the Executive.
Addressing the young athletes, Museveni emphasized the importance of sports as a viable career path. “Do not be diverted into only thinking of things in Europe and forget about your own destiny…The East African integration is not just about sports. It’s an issue of livelihood,” he advised.
Speaker Anita Among expressed her gratitude for the President’s recognition and reiterated the unifying power of sports. “Sports is indeed a universal language which enables participants to understand each other regardless of where they come from, how they look like or what they believe in,” Among said.
State Minister for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, also addressed the athletes, urging them to uphold the principles of sportsmanship and fair play throughout the games.
Following the event, President Museveni visited Kongunga Primary School in Kachumbala County, where he addressed a rally. The occasion was attended by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, several Ministers, Members of Parliament, and members of the business community, underscoring the broad support for the event and its impact on regional development.
