Obituary: USSSA Leadership Pays Tribute to Fallen FEASSA Executive Member Vitalis Shija

The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) President, Justus Mugisha, alongside FEASSA President Emeritus Patrick Okanya, has traveled to Morogoro, Tanzania, to pay last respects to the late Vitalis Shija, a dedicated member of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations (FEASSA) Executive Committee. Shija passed away on February 7, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of immense contributions to school sports in the East African region.

Vitalis Shija was a retired headmaster of Dumila Secondary School and a highly respected sports administrator. He joined FEASSA in 2010 and served diligently as a member of the Executive Committee. His passion for school sports saw him hold key leadership roles, including serving as the President of the Tanzania Heads of Secondary Schools Association (TAHOSSA), where he played a crucial role in shaping the development of secondary school sports in Tanzania.

His passing is a profound loss to the school sports fraternity, and the entire FEASSA community mourns a man who dedicated his life to nurturing young talent and promoting fair play, integrity, and excellence in school sports. Shija’s contributions will forever be remembered in the annals of FEASSA history.

The burial ceremony is set to take place on February 10, 2025, in Morogoro, Tanzania, where family, friends, colleagues, and sports administrators from across the region will gather to honor his memory and bid him a final farewell.

As a school sports family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

MHSRIP.