We are ready, Ndejje University set to host memorable East Africa University Games

LUWERO - Ndejje University in conjunction with the Association of Uganda university Sport-AUUS and under the auspice of the Federation of the Eastern African University Sports-FEAUS, invites your University to participate in the 12th Eastern Africa University Games-EAUGs which will be held at Ndejje University Main Campus in Luwero District- Uganda from 16th to 21st December, 2022.

The incoming Vice Chancellor Ndejje University, Prof. Rev. Can. Olivia Nassaka Banja who was on a familiarization tour of the main campus flanked by the University Chancellor Rt. Rev. Bishop Hannington Mutebi ahead of the games expects a memorable event.

Meanwhile, Patrick Ssekigongo, the university engineer says Ndejje University will deliver a pristine event in time and is ready to host the games although the work has been overwhelming.

So far, $5m is the cost that has been used for upgrading the university sports facilities.

Paul Mark Kayongo, the university finance manager said the original plan focused on upgrading the swimming pool to Olympic levels, a modern gym and running track, but they will now run a manageable plan.

"When we went to plan B, we reduced our budget to Shs12b. Some of the work will fit directly in Plan A but we have to do the refurbishment of the pool, have an acceptable running track, a new tennis court as well as the basketball and netball courts," he said.

Kayongo explained that the university has already spent in excess of Shs2b towards the games while Shs1.5b is expected from the participating universities. About Shs500m is expected from the private sector. President Museveni has pledged Shs3bn.

To pull of the games, Ndejje SS and Bombo Army Barracks will help host some activities.

The final list released by the organisers, the entry list of universities has 44 which have been confirmed as per the deadline. Instead of the expected 40,000 athletes, a total of 2,685 athletes will compete in the 20 disciplines over five days at Ndejje main campus in Luweero.

Uganda’s contingent of 20 universities will be the biggest followed by Kenya with 12. The rest will be from Tanzania. Ndejje University, the defending champions, will present the biggest contingent of 207 athletes followed by Makerere University with 138.

Rwanda, Burundi miss out

Many universities across the region are still recovering from the shockwaves of the Covid-19 lockdown. In Uganda, for instance, no university has first year students, who contribute a great percentage of fees to the coffers.

It is not surprising that sports powerhouses Kampala University and Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono were yet to confirm their places. Surprisingly, Rwanda, who have the University of Rwanda as members of Eastern Africa University Sports Federation (EAUSF), will not present participants. EAUSF has 94 member universities including three from Burundi.

It is understood that both countries pulled out of the event, so is South Sudan.

Athletics is set to be the biggest field represented, with 30 schools registering, both male and female.

Football is set to be represented by 28 teams for the men, while chess is represented by 22 teams for the women, the most for each category. Proper facilities had been a worry for some students concerning the games, but AUUS general secretary Patrick Ssebuliba has credited and encouraged the government to invest in university sports.

“When the games are done, the facilities can be used as a national project that they replicate in all regions of the country,” he says. The theme and slogan for this edition are: “strengthening the integration of the East Africa Higher Education through University Sports” and “Be exceptional (Kuwawa Kipekee), respectively.

Kindly take note of the information below:

1.Participation is by individual university.
2. Participating athletes must be fully registered students of that University, Institution, pursuing at least a full time recognised academic one-year course, aged not more than 29 years.
3. All participants shall pay;
i. Accreditation fees of U$ 8 per person,
ii. Participation fees of U$ 10 per person
iii. Accommodation and feeding of U$ 25 per person per day
iv. Each institution pays a caution fee of U$ 200(Refundable)

All participating universities cleared their respective fees on Account name of Ndejje University at Stanbic Bank- Makerere University Branch through Account Number 0240017293501 with swift Code: sbicugkx.
4. All participants should provide evidence of having received vaccination of Covid-19 in accordance to the Government directives.
5. The first 24 teams that registered and sent individual entry forms were considered for the team sport i.e.; Football (Men and Women), Basketball (Men and Women), and Volleyball (Men and Women).
6. The scoring system for this Championship is medals which will be given to the winning athletes and trophies to the overall winning Universities (men and women) in various categories, based on the Olympic medal tally system.

The opening ceremony will be held on 16th December 2022, while the competition will run from 16th -20th December 2022. The visiting universities teams will depart on 21st December 2022.

Below are the Disciplines for the 12th EAUGS;

Individual sports include Athletics, Badminton, Chess, Darts, Karate, Pool Table, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Woodball while the Team sports include; Basketball, Beach Handball, Football, Handball, Netball, Rugby 7s, and Volleyball.

Florence Nakamya, the head of the secretariat stressed that these games will be like no other as all confirmed Universities have paid up.

To promote inclusiveness, sitting volleyball will be included on the menu as well as women's rugby sevens. So far, $5m is the cost of used for upgrading the university sports facilities.

Paul Mark Kayongo, the university finance manager said the original plan focused on upgrading the swimming pool to Olympic levels, a modern gym and running track, but they will now run a manageable plan.

"When we went to plan B, we reduced our budget to Shs12b. Some of the work will fit directly in Plan A but we have to do the refurbishment of the pool, have an acceptable running track, a new tennis court as well as the basketball and netball courts," he said.

Kayongo explained that the university has already spent in excess of Shs2b towards the games while Shs1.5b is expected from the participating universities. About Shs500m is expected from the private sector. President Museveni has pledged Shs3bn.

To pull of the games, Ndejje SS and Bombo Army Barracks will help host some activities.

The games are organized under the auspices of the Federation of East Africa University Sports (FEAUS), Ndejje University, and the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS). The games are organized every two years in December of an even year with the participation of individual universities. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the university games didn’t happen in December 2020.