Score Card: Mugisha as USSSA President

By Emmanuel Sekago

It is now one year and five months since the current Uganda secondary schools sports association (USSSA) president Justus Mugisha was handed the mantle unopposed to run the activities of the association.

A look at the scorecard of the experienced sports administrator and academician Justus Mugisha who was declared president by the returning officer for the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Joseph Ekodeu Opio On Saturday, July 30th 2022.

His eight point agenda in the manifesto was embedded under the theme-line; “For school sports, for better” focussed areas highlighted in competitions, talent identification and development, technical development, sports infrastructure and facilities, marketing, governance, administration and communications.

In his speech after assuming the presidency seat Justus Mugisha said he wants to consolidate upon the gains under president Patrick Okanya. USSSA has a lot of potential that just needs organization. I will make sure that USSSA is up and running.

Competition is the heart beat of sports. There is a bold target to grow the existing competitions and include more disciplines from the 13 that are currently competed in, including boxing under the combat games.

There is need to introduce more under age sports disciplines, Inter-schools athletics championship, increased participation in ISF Games, promote city holiday sports camps, hold regular national and international competitions, hold course at zonal level for students and games teachers, restrict technical bench to teachers and students, bid to host FEASSSA and ISF games, improve infrastructure, aggressively build, profile and position USSSA brands to lure partners and sponsors, hold USSSA Annual awards, upgrade accounts, improve schools’ judicial system, advocate for affirmative action, increase secretariat staff, regulate player movement from one school to another, engage primary section in talent scouting and development and have a fully-fledged communications department.
In Mugisha Leadership on the side of competition he has scored well with new sporting disciplines like Beach soccer and Volleyball,Mind Games, Lacrosse, Rugby Girls plus DanceSport are now on board but rugby 7s girls has not been taken seriously yet its another sport were Uganda is now performing when it comes to international and continental level, its one area that needs attention come next year 2024, Mugisha pledged to mediate between Uganda boxing federation and government on how boxing and other combat games can be allowed back in schools, its another area were he has failed to meet the deadline as we all know boxing is among the sporting disciplines that put Uganda flag high when it comes to international and continental competitions. Hope in 2024 we will be seeing it on board. With participation in ISF Games he has scored very well and come next year Uganda will be represented very well in all ISF activities, this year ending Amus College school -Bukedea, Kibuli secondary school and St Noa girls School plus Buddo secondary school there performance left a lasting impression at the World Schools Championships , the level of football in schools worldwide has risen significantly and basketball 3×3 and 5×5.
In bid to host FEASSSA games; scored well with The next FEASSA games in 2024 will be held in Uganda and Bukedea Comprehensive school and Amus college school -Bukedea won the bid to host the 2024 Federation of East Africa Secondary School Association games who outcompeted a joint bid from Jinja secondary school and Jinja College, Namilyango College, Nambuli High school, Teso College and Rushoroza, but to host ISF games is yet to achieve it.
In The USSSA Annual awards, he scored well, USSSA marked a significant stride in recognizing and celebrating outstanding achievement in secondary schools with the inaugural excellence awards at the Imperial Royale Hotel, and 36 medals were awarded to various athletes for the year 2023.
Mugisha promised to improve schools’ judicial system,advocate for affirmative action on this am yet to see fruits no matter this year eight schools faced the judicial body appealing on the sanctions slapped on them during USSSA-National games but no out come on the appeals as the year ends, also the judicial body failed to solve the petition filed by Seroma Christian High School on the foreign players that didn’t have the equated documents as required by USSSA against Ngora High school during the USSSA-National Ball games two held in Kabale to date. To regulate player movement from one school to another, I can’t award the score card to him until I see it in 2024 after school registration.
On fully-fledged communications department, here Mugisha has scored well but still alot is still desired to be done, credit to Ms Aisha Nakato and Omario.Hold course at zonal level for students and games teachers, he has scored very well at least students and games teachers have acquired knowledge through capacity building programs but zone like, Karamonja and districts namely Bundibugyo, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kasese, Kibaale, Luuka and Buliisa need special attention not forgetting Special needs.
Lastly on USSSA brands to lure partners and sponsors, we all understand branding consists of a company’s name and logo, visual identity design, mission, values, and tone of voice, with all this in his one year and five months since Mugisha took the mantle he has scored well but lureing partners and sponsors he needs to strengthen the formation of Marketing team.