Uganda Completes Its First Online Parkour Judges’ Training Course

Uganda Completes Its First Online Parkour Judges' Training Course

standardised education for Parkour in Uganda

The discipline of Parkour — navigating obstacles with speed, fluidity and control — is flourishing globally and now has exciting potential in Uganda. Until recently, Uganda’s parkour community had remained largely informal, with practitioners meeting in Kampala and a few other towns to train and share skills. However, as parkour continues to gain visibility through local events, social media, and youth festivals, there is a need for qualified judges to assess competitions accurately and promote safety, discipline, and fairness.
In this vein, the Uganda Gymnastic Federation is proud to have participated in its first-ever online Parkour Judges’ Training Course, on 2 November 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the development and professionalisation of parkour within the country. The program facilitated by the Parkour Technical Committee of the African Gymnastics Union [UAG], trained 9 Ugandan participants in the principles and practices of competitive parkour judging.

What Is the Parkour Judging Course About?

Designed to build local expertise and ensure fair, safe, and standardised evaluation at future events, the online course provided in-depth instruction in:

•Introduction to Parkour Philosophy and Ethics
Trainees explored the roots of parkour — respect, creativity, and self-improvement — and learned how these values translate into fair judging.

• Rules, Safety, and Scoring Systems
Instructors guided participants through international standards for evaluating difficulty, execution, flow, creativity, and safety compliance.

• Judging Practical Exercises
Using video clips competitions, trainees practised scoring routines and received feedback from certified mentors.

• Community and Event Management
This focused on how to organise and officiate local parkour jams and competitions responsibly, while building inclusive movement spaces.

Hope for Ugandan Parkour

Participants of the course have already played key roles in recent international events such as the Bosphorous Cup in Istanbul, Türkiye in September 2025 and national events like the Kampala City Festival in October 2025.

International parkour bodies have commended Uganda’s efforts, with representatives from Japan, Greece and Türkiye highlighting immense potential for growth in the Ugandan Gymnastics Federation.

Looking ahead, the Uganda Parkour Federation plans to expand the initiative by hosting advanced judging certifications and exploring the possibility of a Regional East African Parkour Championship.

The online training for coaches and judges, by FIG experts, is an integral part of the FIG Academy Programme and the FIG AGE Group Programme in collaboration with the Sports Training System, which provides tools to educate and assess judges and coaches. One of the key advantages of the online format was its accessibility, allowing individuals from various regions of Uganda to participate without the logistical challenges of in-person gatherings. This broad reach is crucial for developing a strong and widespread judging pool, which is essential for the growth and standardization of acrobatic gymnastics across the nation. As part of the FIG Academy Programme, participants on the judging path have the opportunity to enroll for assessment. The test date is 8 November, while the exam date is 15 November 2025.

We congratulate Coach Rakib Abdul, Head of Parkour, who championed this successful event.

If you would like more information on Parkour or gymnastics in general, please contact UGF via our email info@ugandagymnasticsfederation.com or let’s chat on our social media channels.

Impact Beyond the Course

By strengthening the technical level of coaches, UGF continues to raise Uganda’s presence on the continental and global stage in Parkour.