Ntungamo District Flags Off Team for National Ball Games in Yumbe

By Anthony Kushaba
Ntungamo

Ntungamo District has officially flagged off its team to represent the area at the 2025 National Primary Schools’ Ball Games and Special Needs Education (SNE) competitions slated for August 25 to September 8 in Yumbe District.

The flagging-off ceremony was held at the district headquarters, where Principal Assistant Secretary Gerald Niwagaba, speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, urged the young athletes to remain disciplined both on and off the pitch. He reminded them that success in sports should go hand in hand with responsible citizenship.

Ntare Denis, the Chief District Education Officer, emphasized the district’s commitment to promoting sports as a tool for talent identification and development. “These games are an opportunity for our pupils to showcase their abilities and turn them into meaningful achievements in life,” he said.

According to Mercy Orikiriza, the District Inspector of Schools who is accompanying the team, Ntungamo will be represented by 20 boys in football and 12 girls in netball, all under the age of 14.

The Chairperson of the Headteachers Association, Katto Emmanuel, who also heads Rukoni Primary School, revealed that headteachers across the district worked together to assemble strong teams capable of giving Ntungamo a competitive edge at the national stage.

Meanwhile, Albert Mugabe, the District Production Officer, encouraged the pupils to blend discipline and sportsmanship with academic focus, stressing that education must remain their foundation.

Costance Mukago who is in charge of sports under the headteachers association revealed that participating in the competitions will enable the pupils be able to interact with others from across the country and also be more confident to take on bigger challenges in their career

The National Primary Schools’ Ball Games, organized by the Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, will take place at Aringa Secondary School in Yumbe District.

The competitions will feature football, netball, volleyball, handball, woodball, and Special Olympics events in football and volleyball. Learners under Special Needs Education will also compete in adapted sports including showdown, goalball, sitting volleyball, football, and volleyball.

Ntungamo joins other districts across the country in what promises to be one of the largest gatherings of young athletes, aimed at promoting both inclusion and talent development in Uganda’s education sector.

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