Netball Elections 2021: The Dozen of Strong Pillars In Sarah Babirye’s Manifesto

On Friday, 21, May, 2021, the Former Buganda Youth Member of Parliament, Hon. Sarah Babirye Kityo fully confirmed and given a go ahead to contest for the post of president of Uganda  Netball Federation.

The Electoral Committee under the guidance of Annet Nakamya approved Babirye after realizing that she is eligible to stand for the top Office and to lead the game for next four years if given mandate.

After that confirmation, Babirye went back to her home in Maya, Masaka road, with her team, she launched the Manifesto that contains twelve (12) key points they want to lift the game of Netball to greater heights.

Below are the key points in Sarah Babirye’s rich manifesto:

1. Securing a home for Netball family in Uganda

Hon. Sarah is saying that it’s great for a nation like Uganda is in seventh position in world rankings, but it embarrassing that a nation with such great honor is homeless. She says they need to have a reasonable home,a one stop centre where the Secretariat can sit and can have another space to operate. Currently Netball’s office is at Lugogo.

2. Taking Netball to the Grassroots in Uganda:

According to her research, Babirye saw it that Netball is only in Kampala and surrounding areas,it’s mostly known at national level but it has weak and shaking roots.

The Honorable believes that the game should be developed from grassroots, Netball having a number of Competitions at all levels, under age Leagues, serious district leagues and regional tournaments. In doing saw all talents will be tapped.

3. Professionalizing Netball:

Currently there is not structures or systems clubs can get through at least to reap from their efforts and finances they invest in players, Netball league is played in a gala kind of tournament, failed to grow, However, Sarah is saying that she has come with a strategy to revive netball and professionalize it to see that even players of the game can be paid more that people working in offices because she believes, Uganda has talent and resources.

4. Marketing and Sponsorship of the game of Netball:

Babirye believes that Ladies are the most favored creatures below the sun and none can fail to stand with them in any aspect if they need a hand but the only challenge she saw that failed Netball to get sponsorship is the packaging.

She saying a nation with two world cup participations, Africa Cup titles, two professional players, can’t fail to get people who can stand with them.

“Netball has good product but poor packaging is what has been letting the game down, but if we package ourselves well no company in Uganda that dealing in ladies’ products and can’t give back to us, each district has Noble women how comes tht we can’t get at least 50 who can stand with the game.” Said Babirye.

5. Facilities Development in the country:

Infrastructures is the greatest challenge in Uganda’s sports sector, hinders it’s development.

Sarah Babirye in her consultations, she realised that a mini Stadium for Netball can’t go beyond 50M shillings if at all you have land. As it’s her pursuit to take the game to every district, she believes it’s possible for every district to contribute over 100M to have that stadium.

“The quotation we got, someone told us that its possible to have a mini Netball Stadium at 50M or even at 35M, hey, if we do a fundraising in every district, we can’t fail to raise 100M, 50M for construction and other 50M for maintainence, we can do that because people are there who can give a hand.”

6. Recognizing and awarding Excellency in Netball:

Honorable Sarah asserted that recognizing people who have done much for the game in one way or the other, can attract many young ones to join the game.

Awarding the best performers both players and Officials is a motivating factor and can increase the level of competition in the game, because they will join the race fighting for something big.

7. Building Capacity of the Netball Stakeholders:

Hon. Sarah wants to see many Netball stakeholders with the knowledge of the game, getting more technocolates who can help in the taking the game to every part of the country, she expecting to achieve that through a number of workshops and seminars both local and international. Getting more coaches and Umpires such that people can specialize.

8. Introducing Corporate Netball 

It’s rare to find Corporate companies engaging in Netball tournaments like they do in football. Babirye wants to sell them the idea, in doing so, the former legislator wants to open door for some of girls and ladies who are Netballers and have other academic qualifications. And they can play for these companies as well as getting employment opportunities.

09.  Establishment of Netball Secretariat in line with UNF.

Since time in memorial, Netball Federation has never been with a standing Secretariat, but Sarah thinks that has let the game down, she wants a functioning Secretariat, that has all details of the game, up to date website with all the players profiles and history of the game such that people don’t meander when need accurate Netball information.

10. Strengthening culture through Netball: 

The Sarah’s camp want to strengthen and bring culture together through Netball, like FUFA has drum, Sarah also need to see the kingdoms that make up Uganda compete in Netball tournament, she is saying that it’s one way of building Netball fan base in the country.

11. Promotion of Equality in the Game

12. Proper Accountability:

Without proper Accountability of funds coming into the game, expect no development.

Sarah wants to account for each and every coin entering in the game.

Sarah Babirye is in competition with She Cranes Manager Joyslin Uchanda and Madam Christine Nampijja.

The elections day is 05, May, 2021.