UMEA Solidarity Games: 8th Edition Launched, Over 100 Teams to Compete in the Tournament
The 2023 UMEA Solidarity Games have been launched on Wednesday 5th, April 2023 at the hosting school Kawanda Secondary School.
The 8th edition is expected to attract over 100 teams from over 40 schools of Islamic based Faith and this is according to Hajji Lwembaawo Hussein, the General Secretary of the UMEA Solidarity Games.
This edition was to be held in 2020 but the tournament was halted due to COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world for over two years.
The tournament is scheduled for Easter weekend between Friday 07th and Monday, teams reporting on Thursday.
Kawanda SS Head master, Ahmed Bukenya Kamoga revealed that the school is ready host the games.
“Kawanda SS, we are overwhelmed, very prepared and very ready and only waiting for kick off on Friday, we are very ready in the areas of accommodation, playing areas, welfare and the rest. Final touches have been made.
I want to assure all the participating schools that Kawanda is ready to receive you even if the schools are over 100. The community and Students are very ready to welcome you and the security is good and we have already received the clearance from the IGP” Says Kawanda SS Head master Ahmed Bukenya Kamoga.
For starters, UMEA games started in 1998 but rebranded to UMEA Solidarity Games in 2013 and this is the 8th edition.
“Last year we were not ready to organize the games because of the congested calendar of sports events but this time we are very ready to have the tournament that was last held in 2019. This is a special edition because we are hosting it in the month of Ramadan, and everyone is going to take part in it will be blessed.” Said Hajji Kitezaala Muhammed the chairperson of the games.
“The games intended to promote friendship, to create relationship among Moslem schools, prepare school teams for regional, national and international duties”
This year’s edition will run on the theme of Environment and Us.
Six disciplines will be in this year’s edition for both girls and boys, Football, handball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, Netball (girls only), Woodball (exhibition).
The notable schools that have already confirmed participation include; Kawanda SS, Kawempe Muslim SS, Mbogo Mixed, Mbogo High School, Kibaawa High, Masaka SS, Kibuli SS, Kinaawa High School Mugongo, Greenlight, London College.
Six venues will be hosting the tournament that is; Main venue Kawanda SS, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Namalere, Mbogo Mixed SS, Brixton Jokolera, Kawempe Muslim SS, and Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium.
The Opening ceremony will be on Friday at 2PM at Kawanda SS and the guest of Honor Director of Basic Education Hajji Mulindwa Ismail.