With under a month to the kick-off of this year’s edition, Eastern Uganda hosted the FEASSA delegation on a mission to conduct final inspections. The delegation comprising officials from Uganda (hosts), Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zanzibar spent a day in the land of the Bamasaba (Mbale) and Bukedea to assess the readiness of over 17 competition venues (mainly).
The team started with venues in Mbale which included;
- Mbale Stadium
- Mbale SS
- Mbale Sports Club
- Mbale Rugby Club Union ground
- Mbale Cricket Ground
- Mbale School of Health Sciences
- Mbale School of Hygiene
- Islamic University In Uganda
- Nakaloke T/C playground
And later, concluded with venues in Bukedea Comprehensive and Amus College Schools both located in Bukedea district which included;
- Bukedea Booma grounds
- Bukedea Primary school
- Bukedea Comprehensive School Stadium
- Bukedea Comprehensive School indoor Arena (4,000-seater)
- Swimming pool (semi-Olympic)
- Bukedea Comprehensive School Natural Grass Pitch
- Amus College Pitches (A-D) and
- Amus Stadium
Speaking to the USSSA media, Justus Mugisha the president of FEASSA who also doubles as the USSSA expressed his impression
“We are very impressed because we have been shown very many venues, we have also received assurance that even those that are not completed as of now, will be completed in the shortest meantime. We are impressed even more because we have facilities that have been built specifically for school sports and are with the school environment. We believe Uganda is ready and set to be the best host for the regional games.”
He also confirmed that some dignitaries have confirmed to officiate the games, among these will be the head of State of the Republic of Uganda H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, ISF President Laurent Patrynk, ISF General Secretary, and FASS President.
The General Secretary of FEASSA David Ngugi was confident that Uganda is ready to host these games after a heavy investment into such facilities.
“When constructing any structure, the finishing is always the most difficult because it is repsonsible for the beauty of the facility, I beleive by the end of the it all we shall enjoy using them. I would love to urge the hosts (Uganda) that test matches be held to confirm the readiness of the grounds before games are hosted.” Ngugu Said .
The 2024 FEASSA Games are scheduled for 16th – 27th August 2024 with 13 sports disciplines confirmed in this year’s edition. Uganda will present over 1300 athletes, and 60 teams adding a total of over 3500 participants for the entire championships