Netball Capacity Building: “I Want More Umpires at World Level”, Kityo Vows at The Official Opening of Africa Level C Course

The Uganda Netball Federation President, Hon. Babirye Kityo Sarah vowed to do what is in her potential and whatever it takes to see that Uganda gets more Umpires at World level.

The current regime governing Uganda Netball went down in the books of history as the first to hold an Africa Level C Umpiring Course, the ordinary level at the continent before going forward to level B and A that enabling Umpires to officiate in tournaments at continent and world level.

The course that will run for a while week before the throw off of the 2022 East Africa Club Netball Championship that is going to be hosted on the land, commenced yesterday at Kamwokya Community Sports Ground-Kampala suburb and today, Monday 02, 2022 has been officially opened by the UNF President Hon Babirye Kityo Sarah.

The course has attracted 18 participants from different parts of the country but it was for only those with level 3 and been active in the league.

The president while addressing the participants, she asked them to be focused, neutral while judging the game and to avoid cheap politics that taking the game no where.

As Africans we believe in having relatives and extended families, so when you come to our home, we let you enjoy so I welcome my friend to Uganda again.” Kityo Sarah in her opening remarks.

” I am an administrator, I am not technical, but you judges, we expect you to be neutral, I feel bad when I get negative comment from the judges towards the players, clubs or coaches, Yes judging is a hard job but try to do it well.

You are the backbone of this game, when you judge poorly we fail, when you judge well it’s a plus and we go forward.

You are technical, we don’t expect you to be in cheap talks like we who are not technical, we the fans, because whenever a fan loses a game, he or she will say, they cheated us. Avoid such and avoid cheap politics, our target is to see you getting good money, if you join those who fight the federation programs, it will not affect those but it will come back to you. “

“Ofcourse , as a president I will give my support, that I can to see that you reach that level we want. “

The World Netball Umpiring Instructor from Nambia Emarencia Julieta Esterhuizen revealed that the Uganda’s position in the world rankings, it’s very important also her umpires to upgrade.  

“We have been working hard this afternoon and I must say that I am really impressed, the umpires have improved a lot, but also you know with She Cranes ranked 6th in the world, its only suiting that your umpires start upgrading now and it’s promising that your umpires are coming for these skills and they are really doing well, I am happy. ” Said Emarencia Julieta Esterhuizen from Namibia.

While speaking to this website, the president thanked Ministry of Education and Sports and National Council of Sports for the support towards the successful hosting of the course and she vowed to see that Uganda gets more Umpires at World level.

“I thank State Minister and NCS for the support rendered to us towards this project, we have been lacking such, I am happy that it’s coming in our regime and our target is to see that we get more Umpires who are at Africa and World level, it has been a shaming that we are ranked 6th in the world but with no umpire at that level, happy that we now have one in Mugisha Ali but we need at least to have like five, six or more.” She said.

Nahayo Wycliff and Maureen Nankya Winfred among the participants, thanked the federation for holding such high level courses because they have been missing them.

The full list of the participants;

Mujabi Ephraim, Mpoza Denis, Mpoza Ivan, Allo Brenda Dradria, Mwesigwa Jonnah Gift, Kibira Robert, Abalo Florence, Nalumansi Aisha, Ntege Angel, 
Lubanga Mohammed, Nakaweesa Sarah,
Prince Kabiito Jimmy, Nabasumba Stella,
Atonet Elizabeth, Komugisa Ritah Diana, 
Waligo John, Nankya Maureen, Nahayo Wycliff.