By Juma Ali
The 2023 UMEA Solidarity games have been officially launched at Kawanda Secondary School. This has been done in a press briefing held at the host school Kawanda SS after the inspection of all the playing surfaces and accomodation facilities.
The Muslim founded secondary schools games return after a period three years which had two COVID 19 years with the 2022 edition called off due to the UMEA organising committee not being ready at that time.
Kibuli Secondary School are the defending Champions having being having been crowned the overall winners of the UMEA Solidarity games in the last edition held in 2019 at Kasawo Islamic SS in Mukono.
The headteacher of Kawanda Secondary School Ahmed Bukenya Kamoga affirmed their readiness to host the UMEA games.
“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.” Said Kamoga Ahmed Bukenya.
This year’s UMEA games will run on the theme ‘Environment and Us’ with the UMEA games chairperson Hajji Kitezaala Muhammed dubbing it a special edition which is to be hosted in the holy Month of Ramadhan.
“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.”
“The games intended to promote friendship, to create relationship among Muslim schools, prepare school teams for regional, national and international duties.” Said Hajji Twahil Kitezaala.
The 2023 UMEA Schools Solidarity games will kick off on Friday 7th April with the opening ceremony to be held at Kawanda Secondary School whereas the finals are expected to be played on Monday 10th April 2023 at Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium in Wakiso.
There will six sports disciplines to be competed in, those include; Football, Handball, Netball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Volleyball as Woodball will be on trial.
40 teams have confirmed participation in this year’s edition, these include; Kawanda ss the host, Kawempe Muslim ss, Nkoba Islamic SS Tula, Greenlight high school, Masaka ss, Kakungulu Memorial, Kakungulu High, Mbogo College school, Mbogo Mixed, Mbogo High, Kinaawa high Mugongo and Kawempe Campus, Kibuli ss, Namagabi ss, Kasawo ss, Kasawo Islamic, Nkoma ss, Naggalama Islamic ss, East High among others.
The UMEA games started in 1998 but later rebranded to UMEA Solidarity games in 2013 and this is the eighth edition which has attracted more than 40 Islamic faith founded secondary schools.
