The first Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Associations (FEASSA) Preparatory meeting was held at the USSSA Offices located on GNS Plaza, Old Kampala.
All national championships were concluded and the participants to represent Uganda are preparing themselves for the big stage this August in Bukedea District.
The FEASSA games will be hosted jointly by Amus College and Bukedea Comprehensive School. The participating countries to participate in the regional championship are Kenya,Tanzania,Burundi,Rwanda,Zanzibar and South Sudan.
The first meeting has been held at the USSSA Offices chaired by USSSA President Mugisha Justus.The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports in the Department of Physical Education and Sports namely Sammy Odong (Assistant Commissioner), Madam Grace Abalo (Senior Education Officer) and Brenda Asiimwe a data entry clerk
The USSSA Chief Executive Officer Mugisha Christopher Banage, President Emeritus Patrick Alfred Okanya and members of the USSSA Secretariat also attended the meeting.
During the meeting representatives and games’ teachers of the qualified schools were briefed on various matters from financial obligations, regulations, registrations, discipline and dressing.
In his opening remarks the USSSA President congratulated all the games teachers whose schools have qualified to participate in the upcoming championship to represent the country at regional level. He went on to emphasize that there is cost sharing between the government through (Ministry of Education and sports) and USSSA.
“This time around Uganda is taking over 1300 students to the championship, and we cannot postpone until government money is ready that is why we are paying only 11 US Dollars and as usual you will get your refund of 6 US dollars per student per day” he concluded”.
“When we participate at FEASSA level we are team Uganda because these are international games”. Said Mugisha Justus, USSSA President.
Below are the points that were discussed and elaborated during the meeting.
The dates to Note:
The games will take place from 16th to 27th August 2024 with teams expected to arrive on Friday 16th August and depart on Tuesday 27th August.
The qualified teams should confirm participation by payment on 4th August (11:59Pm) and on the 6th August registration, verification and accreditation for all the qualified schools as well as the replaced schools.
The FEASSA games will be launched on 9th August 2024 by the local organizing committee in conjunction with USSSA.
All qualified schools and replaced school will receive their kits and team uniforms on 12th August as FEASSA draws will be held on the same day.
Teams are supposed to arrive on 16th August and competition will start on 17th with the opening ceremony on 18th and Closing ceremony on 26th August. There1* will be a nation night where each country’s participants are expected to showcase their culture and Uganda as hosts must take the lead.
The disciplines include the following with the number of participants indicated in brackets. Football (20), Basketball (12), Basketball 3×3(5), Rugby 7s (12), Rugby 15s (25), Netball (14), Hockey (20), Tennis (6), Table Tennis (6), Badminton (6), Handball (14) and Volleyball (12). The Swimmers and athletes are selected according to qualification.
The disciplines are for both boys and girls except Netball whose participants are girls only. Each team is allowed 2 officials and one of the officials must be a teacher of the same gender as the participants.
Primary schools will participate in football, volleyball, athletics for both boys and girls while netball for girls only. Special Needs Education competition event is goal ball for both boys and girls in secondary and primary.
Qualification was through national qualifiers, slots for FEASSA and defending champions.
Registration and eligibility of participants
- Only Students that are registered onto the USSSA Online Registration Portal.
- Primary school participants must be 15 years and below (Born on or after 26th August 2009) for primary while secondary schools should be 19 years (born on or after 26th August ,2004)
- Only those verified and played in National championship are eligible to take part in FEASSA games 2024.
- Three copies of the team list of players, coach and games teacher on the school headed paper verified by the head teacher /principal, this should include name, class, school and date of birth.
- Copies of School ID cards with photo for all the players duly filled and certified /signed by the head teacher showing class and date of birth.
- A group photo of the team with the names written at the back or attached (the headteacher/principal must also be in the photo)
- Birth Certificates and letters of consent from the parents/guardians of the participants.
- Financial Obligations: each team will pay a participation fee one 200 US Dollars, welfare (full board accommodation is 11 USD per head and an accreditation fee of 10 USD per participant/official. Upon release of government funds, teams may be refunded part of
- Accommodation: The secondary school girls will be hosted at Bukedea comprehensive, the primary girls at Bukedea College of Health sciences and girls with Special Needs at Bukedea Teaching Hospital.
- Amus College will host the secondary boys, Bukedea College of Health Science (extension) for primary boys and boys with special needs at Bukedea Teaching Hospital (East Wing).
In addition, Sammy Odong during his remarks emphasized safety of the athletes and smartness and discipline on and off the pitch especially among the coaches who in most cases are not teachers.
“The government is going to provide attire in this order, track suits, training kits (at least an air per student), competition kits and a polo t-shirt to all students registered as per the USSSA system”. Sammy Odong, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Ministry of Education and Sports.
In conclusion there will be zero tolerance to indiscipline and cases of indiscipline among officials or players will be severely punished.
For any information calls can be made on 0393256054.