Taking Gymnastics to Ugandan Schools' Games
The Uganda Gymnastics Federation (UGF) is thrilled to report on our participation in the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on November 15, 2025, at the Front Page Hotel. This significant gathering brought together national sports leaders, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) officials, and education stakeholders to chart the future of school sports in Uganda. Our presence at the AGM underscores UGF’s unwavering commitment to integrating gymnastics into secondary school sports and strengthening the partnerships necessary for grassroots development.
A Platform for Gymnastics in Ugandan Schools
The AGM delivered a major breakthrough for our sport: the USSSA President formally recognized the Uganda Gymnastics Federation’s interest and confirmed that gymnastics has been granted a platform within the Association. This means that gymnastics is now among the five more sports recently included in the association. The President of USSSA emphasized the importance of introducing a broader range of sports disciplines for holistic talent development. This directly aligns with our mission, and we are now tasked with demonstrating commitment and hard work to utilize this new platform.
Key Takeaways and Government Vision
We gained valuable insights from the addresses by top MoES officials, which will guide our strategy going forward:
* Holistic Talent Nurturing: The Commissioner of MoES highlighted the Ministry’s vision to strengthen sports structures, calling for enhanced capacity building for coaches and the development of facilities that support diverse sports. The President of Uganda has already approved the construction of sports facilities in all 19 zones across the country to nurture talent regionally.
* Early Talent Development: The Permanent Secretary of MoES stressed the critical role of sports in promoting health, teamwork, and national pride. She strongly encouraged the USSSA leadership to collaborate more closely with the Primary Schools Sports Association, noting that early talent identification at the primary level is what matures into secondary school performance.
* Capacity Building: The USSSA President clarified that Level 1 training for students and the issuance of certificates and curricula must originate from the respective federations, not USSSA. This emphasizes the direct responsibility on UGF to develop school-focused training workshops.
UGF's Call to Action
The AGM was a clear validation of our approach. Based on the discussions, UGF is moving forward with the following recommendations:
* Formal Engagement: We will initiate formal engagement with USSSA to launch gymnastics programs in pilot schools.
* Teacher Training: We will develop a targeted capacity-building plan for teachers and sports masters to ensure quality instruction.
* Equipment Partnerships: We will actively seek partnerships for equipment support to help schools establish basic gymnastics facilities.
* Alignment: We will strengthen communication with MoES to ensure all our initiatives align with the national sports development plans. As a result, the UGF President was invited to meet with the National Association of Sports Officers in Mubende on November 20, 2025.
Conclusion
UGF is excited to embrace the responsibility and opportunity to make gymnastics an accessible and transformative sport for learners across Uganda.
Submitted by: Donia Emilly, Secretary General, Uganda Gymnastics Federation
If you would like more information, please contact UGF via our email info@ugandagymnasticsfederation.com or let’s chat on our social media channels.