During the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) 44th Annual General Assembly held at Front Page Hotel on Saturday, July 26, Assitant Commissioner for Physical Education from the Ministry of Education and Sports Sammy Odongo echoed the Ministry’s position on schools sports in government and government-aided schools.
At the Assembly, Sammy Odongo, issued a stern warning to head teachers particularly in government and government-aided institutions over what he described as deliberate non-participation in school sports.
He criticized the growing trend where school administrators treat co-curricular engagement as optional, arguing that such decisions are stifling student talent development.
“Participation by government and government-aided schools appears to be by choice. Some head teachers are effectively killing students’ talents by denying them the opportunity to compete,” Odongo stated.
Reinforcing the Ministry’s position, he emphasized that participation in sports is no longer discretionary but a policy directive.
“All government and government-aided schools must take part in the Ministry’s academic programmes, including the sports calendar. This is not optional—it is mandatory.”
The 2027 implementation timeline provides a transition window, but the message from Namasuba is unequivocal: participation is no longer negotiable.
Odong was the chief guest at the assembly, representing his senior official, Rev. Dr. Duncan Mugumya, the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports, in his absence.
