Volleyball Referees who underwent capacity building proud of how far they have come. -

Nine volleyball referees in charge of officiating the ongoing USSSA Elite games sixth edition happening at St. Joseph of Nazareth in Kavule, Mpigi are products of USSSA Capacity Building.

The referees are working under the fulltime supervision of Komakech Innocent a volleyball referee and trainer/instructor. Komakech is the Highest trained referee in East Africa at the moment, also a Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) elected board member representing Northern and Eastern Uganda and also appointed by UVF as the national referees’ instructor.

The referees:-

Nahabwe Samalie is the youngest of them all at just 15 years and senior three student at Buremba SS.

Ampumuza Bronia is a senior four student at St. Catherine Kazo,

Amumpire Shivon was a student at St. Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale and now in her senior six vacation.

Ssengendo Emmanual a student of St Balikudembbe Mitala Maria in his Senior four vacation.

Kemigisha Gladys is a nursing student at the Kyetume School of Nursing.

Martin Obel is a teacher while Ainembabazi Arnold Major,Tumusiime Godfrey Friday and Kobusingye Cynthia are also officiating.

“All of the referees have been through USSSA Capacity Building programme except four who had already been trained under Uganda Volleyball federation but later trained with USSSA.

Komakech trained these officials in various areas locations namely Soroti,Kabale,Mbarara and Kampala between 2022 and 2024.He is very happy that these people did not just go back and sit.

“I am impressed that even after teaching them they did not just go back and relax, they continued to officiate in their respective schools and zones because this shows by the way they are handling these elite games. Their confidence is very good

What the referees had to say; –

“I trained at Ntare School in Mbarara,I chose volleyball by myself because it is my hobby” Nahabwe Samalie the youngest referee at 15 years old, a student at Buremba SS.

“I trained for the referee course among the very first group in December 2022 at Kibuli SS and we are progressing well” Obel Martin, a teacher.

“I am in my senior four vacation and scored As, Bs and 2 Cs as a student of St. Balikuedembe SS Mitala Maria. As regards capacity building is studied my level one in 2023 at St. Mary’s College Rushoroza during Ball games 2 in 2023 and later level 2 at Kibuli SS, I also studied with Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) I am very happy because I have travelled to several places and made new friends.” Ssengendo Emmanuel.

DAY ONE RESULTS

Girls

St. Elizabeth Mbarara 2-0 St. Maria Gorreti Katende (25-11,25-13)

Mariam High School 2-1 Ngora High School (25-18,21-25,25-21)

Immaculate Heart SS Nyakibale 2-0 St. Joseph of Nazareth (25-03,25-10)