“If you Want to take the student I have groomed, compasete Me”, USSSA President Highlights on Players’ Transfer in Schools
By: Kayiira Jackson
A number of Ugandans have been wondering asking a number of questions as to why the transfer of players in secondary schools involves a lot of money exchanges.
The most notable one that broke in media is the transfer of a Netball player and a student Dilaya Nabbowa from Ngando SS to St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende and this transfer costed Kitende seven million shillings and the rumors have it that Bukedea Comprehensive School to assemble the team that competed in USSSA Boys Football championship in Masaka,ISF Schools World Cup and the FEASSA games in Bukedea, the school spent over 80 million shillings.
While addressing media on Thursday in the Association’s quarterly press conference at the head office GNS Plaza Kampala, USSSA President, Justus Mugisha revealed that the transfer of players was put in guidelines to curb the vice and tendency of some schools that used to take finished products minus giving something to the school that has groomed the child from the scratches.
“It’s true there is transfer of students from one school to another and it’s done under serious guidelines.” The president said.
“Initially, ‘big’ school who never wanted to invest in developing a player, they had a tendency of taking finished products from the other schools and remember, those schools invest a lot in those kids who mostly come from humble families that can’t afford school fees.”
“For instance, at my school, Standard High School Zana, a normal student pays 1.2m per term, many of these students cant afford that. So if you just come and take that child I have invested in that money, then that’s not fair, so we thought it wise and introduced the transfer and if you want to take that child compasete me. What’s wrong with me asking you to compasete me with 10M shillings. ” He asked.
At the same event, the bidding to host the Schools championships for the next four years.
Special from the previous years, the bidding to host national championships from 2024 to 2028 has been officially opened. During the press conference held at GNS Office, Mugisha Justus, declared the bidding to host the 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 USSSA National games open to all regions and schools across the country.
“The year 2024 has been a successful one as far as USSSA National Championships are concerned. The championships were well-organized. The number of participants that took part in this year’s championships was commendably high.” USSSA President Justus Mugisha stated.
Elite Games – 1,271 participants
Ball Games I (Fresh Dairy Games)– 3,840 participants
Football Boys – 1,653 participants
Ball Games II and Athletics – 6,916 participants
Ball Games II and Mind Games – 2,356 participants
Swimming Gala – 338 participants.
“Thank you to Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College School for organizing the recently concluded FEASSA Games. Also, to all schools that have been part of any championship organized this year, namely Masaka SSS, Ndejje SSS, Seroma Christian High School, and Teso College Aloet. We cannot forget the games teachers, head teachers, and directors of these schools for the work they do tirelessly to organize the championships.” Commissioner Physical Education and Sports, Reverend Canon Duncans Mugumya stated during the press conference.
For the past four years, the USSSA National Championships have been rotating in the different regions of the country. The Western Region hosted in 2018, Eastern in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were halted by COVID-19 and did not take place. The games resumed in 2022 in Northern, 2023 in the Western and Central region.
If it is a school’s turn to host and they fail due to unpreparedness or failure to be ready by inspection time, another school or region can take up the slot but remains eligible to host when its turn comes.