Schools have been urged to embrace sports as an integral part of their curriculum to improve the quality of education and promote the overall development of learners.
The call was made by George William Mukasa, president of the Life Saving Association of Uganda, during the second Ssemakokiro Pine Forest Gardens Sports Gala held at Kitegomba in Kasangati town council.
Mukasa said sports play a vital role in supporting children’s physical health, mental well-being and academic performance.
“I would like to call upon schools to embrace sports activities in their curriculum. This is key to supporting children’s health and mental capacity alongside formal education,” he said.
He noted that sports such as swimming and chess are increasingly becoming sources of employment and career opportunities, making it important for schools and parents to nurture talent from an early age.
Mukasa also commended Harriet Ssali for establishing Ssemakokiro Pine Forest Gardens, describing it as a recreational hub that is helping to identify and develop talent among young people.
Harriet Ssali, the managing director of Ssemakokiro Pine Forest Gardens, praised the participating schools for their active involvement in the competition.
She pledged to continue working closely with schools to develop talent and equip learners with skills that will benefit them in the future.
“We are committed to creating opportunities for children to discover and develop their abilities through sports and other recreational activities,” she said.
At the end of the competition, St Philomena Junior School emerged overall winner with 73 points and walked away with a trophy and a male goat.
Buckingham Junior School finished second with 71 points, while Bright Junior School came third with 45 points.
Dominion Junior School took fourth place with 33 points, while Marina Junior School finished fifth with 25 points.
Swimming and chess were the main events at the gala, which attracted five schools from Mawule, Nangabo, Kitegomba, Kiteezi and Buwaga.
One of the organisers, Hellen Ssali, thanked the schools for participating and pledged continued support for both the institutions and surrounding communities.
She said Ssemakokiro Pine Forest Gardens would continue positioning itself as a leading leisure destination for children and adults.
Hakim Galiwango, a director at Marina Junior School, called upon parents to encourage their children to participate in sports activities.
He said sports play an important role in education by promoting discipline, teamwork and confidence among learners.
