Badminton Uganda has strengthened its grassroots development drive after training 170 teachers from seven districts in the Busoga region under the Shuttle Time programme.
The two-week coaching and officiating workshop, which ended in Kamuli District, brought together teachers from Kamuli, Bugiri, Bugweri, Mayuge, Luuka, Buyende and Namutumba, with the federation seeking to establish a sustainable school-based badminton structure.
The programme is designed to give teachers the technical knowledge required to introduce, coach and officiate badminton in their schools, allowing the sport to continue growing even in areas where Badminton Uganda has no permanent presence.
Badminton Uganda Chief Executive Officer Simon Mugabi said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop the sport’s technical base while promoting emerging formats such as Air Badminton.
“The Shuttle Time programme is looking at the development of Air Badminton, teaching skills to technical officials such that they can handle their tournaments and programmes. Even if the national organisation is not on the ground, they can still carry on,” Mugabi said.
The federation will now take the programme to the Bunyoro region as it continues its nationwide rollout.
“We have completed this region and we are going to continue with our programme. The next stop is Bunyoro region,” Mugabi added.
Participants welcomed the training, with several teachers committing to introduce the skills to learners when schools resume.
Gabula Lamech said the workshop broadened his understanding of badminton and equipped him with knowledge he intends to pass on to his pupils.
“It is very interesting. Much of what we didn’t know has been taught to us. When I go back to my school, I will be teaching my learners so that they also pick interest in badminton,” he said.
Fauza, a games teacher at Kamuli Progressive College-Mulondo, highlighted badminton’s potential to promote inclusive participation in schools.
She said the sport can accommodate boys, girls and learners with disabilities, giving students who may have limited sporting opportunities a chance to participate alongside their peers.
Badminton Uganda believes building a network of trained teachers will broaden the sport’s reach, strengthen the school competition pathway and create a larger pool of grassroots coaches and officials across the country.
