Capacity Building Media Trainees Showcase Zeal For Sports Journalism And Portray Skills At Elite Games.

By John Wycliffe Musinguzi

Media is one of the courses that are trained under the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association capacity building training. Many students, teachers, and, sports lovers have enrolled but the enthusiasts and passionate are already benefiting from the training.

In December 2022, the first-ever media course was held at Kibuli Secondary School where passionate students and teachers attended, and discovered more knowledge about sports media.

USSSA has so far trained a total of 431 media trainees since the inception of the Capacity Building Training Program

FUFA Communications Director Ahmed Hussein, FUFA Communications officers Aminah Babirye, and Alex Kasirye have been the big brains behind the shaping of the next generation of media officers and future sports journalists.

During the previous championships, the Association has given opportunities to a limited number to showcase their capabilities in delivering media duties but always promised to increase the number with time.

At the just concluded USSSA Elite Games, seven media officers were given the opportunity to cover the games on behalf of the association with full support and facilitation.

The Seven Media Officers And Their Roles At USSSA Elite Games 2024

• Mujwega Travor – Media Officer Football Boys
• Jude Atwiine – Media Officer Football Girls
• Kasemeza Catherine – Media Officer Basketball
• Mukwaya Arnold – Media Officer Handball
• Musinguzi John Wycliffe – Media Officer Football Boys
• Komugisha Priscilla – Media Officer Netball
• Nankya Saudah – Media Officer Volleyball

The participants share their experiences before, during, and after the games.

“I was a media officer for my school ( Gombe S.S) in the Fresh Diary Games that were hosted in Ntare School where I used to cover Basketball and Badminton making graphics for the matches, taking photographs, interviews. I have gained more experience from the Elite Games in different media activities for example writing stories among others.” Kasemeza Catherine

“Apart from USSSA Elite Games 2024, I had covered other championships like FEASSSA, Ball Games II, and National Football Championship where I performed different duties but this was a championship that had a short time and needed work to be delivered at a higher speed which needed more accuracy. My principle is to use every championship to improve in different fields and I think I have used it well to master new tactics, hopefully, the next one I will be better.” John Wycliffe Musinguzi – S4 Vaccist Kitumba Secondary School, Fort Portal

“I had very little experience ce on how to use cameras and news writing but during the games, I learned how to use a camera and news writing. I can write my own stories and post them on my Twitter handle” Mukwaya Arnold – S6 Student Akii Bua High School

“Before the Elite games, I had only been to the Fresh Dairy games in Mbarara 2023, where I had a different role. During the Elite Games, I experienced the real pressure of delivering updates in real-time. This was the best time to make mistakes and rectify them. I was also able to write up a couple of stories about Girls’ Football under the guidance of the director Mr. Omaria Bosco and madam Aisha Nakato. I think I can only get better. After the Elite Games, I think I am better placed not to repeat the same mistakes and also do even more professional content.” Atwiine Rugaba Jude – S6 Vaccist Uganda Martyrs High School, Lubaga

“I learnt to be more resilient and to always go an extra mile when doing things so that they turn out well” Nankya Saudah – third year student Makerere University

“I didn’t have any experience before the Elite Games but I got a chance to experience what it feels like to be part of the Elite Games. It was a good experience, I learned a lot of things, made friends, and was exposed to some things I didn’t know I enjoyed every moment of the Elite Games, and if given another chance I will be pleasured to work with USSSA again”. Komugisha Priscila – s6 vaccist Jinja SSS

Experience- (Before) – I had the desire and passion to be one of the most celebrated photographers but I had nothing not even a helping hand to fulfill my dream.

During – It was such an honor for usssa to introduce capacity building that it was an adventure to start doing what I dreamt of, I acquired more knowledge in both photography and content creation I was given hands-on skills and awakened my dream and it was an opportunity to be the Usssa photographer since I was trained with the best instructors (Omaria Bosco, Aisha Nakato, Julius Mutebi)

After – I am now more knowledgeable in Media especially in photography and willing to go on with my career and fulfill my dream. Trevor Mujwega – S6 Vaccist Royal Giant High School

Appreciation And Encouraging Messages To Other Students

“USSSA capacity building program has done me well, it has helped me know what I can do better and what I can’t do. I appreciate all my instructors who have groomed me to this level and also thank Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association for giving us a chance to prove our abilities.” Komugisha Priscilla

“I urge students to engage themselves in sport because this will keep them healthy which will enable them to perform well academically. I also help them improve their public relations because they meet people from various regions of the country.” Kasemeza Catherine

“I urge students to be focused and take the knowledge taken during the training seriously because it can be expounded into a career” Nankya Saudah

“With the sports sector growing day by day, everyone needs to be educated to handle most of the tasks. Capacity Building will serve the Ugandan sports sector by educating many people mostly the young ones who will grow within the games.” John Wycliffe Musinguzi

“I want to encourage my fellow students, that this is a golden opportunity to enhance your knowledge in Sports because sport is no longer leisure it’s a profession. Even if you have something else you are doing diverse your brain with sports knowledge because it has endless opportunities.” He adds

“I had the desire and passion of being one of the most celebrated photographers but I had nothing not even a helping hand to fulfill my dream. It was such an honor for USSSA to introduce capacity building that it was an adventure to start doing what I dreamt of, I acquired more knowledge in both photography and content creation I was given hands-on skills, and awakened my dream.” Mujwega Trevor

Old Is Gold, Capacity Building Program Proprietor Addresses The Young ones

While addressing all the capacity-building trainees at the Elite Games including Referees, Mr Patrick Okanya urged the students to be disciplined.

” Without discipline, you will head nowhere, even if you are a good media officer or referee you will be dumped because of your unsporting and personal behaviors because they tarnish our brand,” said Okanya in a brief meeting with the trainees.

Besides discipline you must work hard, you have to deliver your best because you are not the only trained personnel but why are you the only ones here? He posed a touching question.

“Being here doesn’t guarantee you a place to be on our every championship, it’s through determination and hard work that you will be available for selection next time and also go for international tournaments” he added