BY JUMA ALI
The Uganda Woodball Federation (UWbF) has unveiled the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) as the official sponsor of the 14th ICPAU Junior Woodball Championship 2024.
This was during a press conference held at the ICPAU offices on Monday 10 June 2024. The ICPAU Juniors’ Woodball Championship will be hosted by St. Mary’s Kitooro Primary School tomorrow, Saturday 15th June 2024 in Lwengo district.
The sponsorship package is valued at UGX 25 million, encompassing both cash and in-kind contributions. This generous support is intended to significantly cover the championship ensuring a successful event.
CPA Paul Mark Kayongo, the President of Uganda Woodball Federation expressed gratitude to ICPAU for the continued support.
“We take great pride in our long-standing partnership with ICPAU, the pioneer corporate institution to partner with UWbF from its early days. Trust is paramount in all businesses, and we are grateful for ICPAU’s trust and continued support. We pledge to use the sponsorship funds effectively and ensure transparent accountability,” he noted.
CPA Kayongo further encouraged other corporate institutions to emulate ICPAU’s example of Corporate Social Responsibility, emphasising the importance of giving back to society, which is fundamental to business success.
He noted that since 2010, ICPAU has been a steadfast supporter of the annual ICPAU Junior Woodball Championship which includes both primary and secondary schools. CPA Kayongo said that over the years, the event has seen growing participation, with 600 participants from over 40 schools expected this year. He highlighted that participating schools qualified through regional qualifiers held from February to May 2024.
The Secretary/CEO of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda, CPA Derick Nkajja also expressed pride in nurturing young talent.
“ICPAU is dedicated to developing young talent based on three essential elements: the head, the heart, and the hands. Woodball, as a sport facilitates this comprehensive growth. We are fully committed to backing the Junior Woodball Championship and spreading the sport’s reach throughout Uganda,” noted CPA Derick Nkajja.
The regional qualification process has strengthened the sport’s grassroots growth, attracting key partners such as the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association and the Ministry of Education and Sports. This alignment with the new sports law mandates National Federations like Woodball to promote the sport nationwide. In 2023, UWbF held key activities in Mbale, Gulu, and Njeru. This year’s Junior Championship in Lwengo will be followed by the National Open Woodball Championship in Soroti, marking UWbF’s regional engagement efforts.
Hon. Ahmed Ali Kiwanuka, the Regional Coordinator for Lwengo District Local Government, and a representative of the hosting school; St. Mary’s Primary School Lwengo, stated that Lwengo district has prepared the best woodball course compared to previous championships and the district is ready to welcome all participating institutions to ensure a memorable tournament.
“As the defending champion in the Junior boys’ league, we are excited to host the 14th ICPAU Junior Woodball Championships Our venue is conveniently located along the Mbarara Kampala highway, offering easy access from the centre of Lwengo” he added.
The Uganda Woodball Federation was founded in 2008 to spearhead the development of woodball in Uganda. ICPAU was established in 1992 by an Act of Parliament now the Accountants Act, 2013. The functions of the Institute as prescribed by the Act are; to regulate and maintain the standard of accountancy in Uganda, and to prescribe and regulate the conduct of accountants and practising accountants in Uganda. ICPAU is a member of the International Federation of Accountants.
This year’s Championship will attract over 600 participants from over 40 schools countrywide. These schools qualify from their respective regions through the regional schools qualifiers that took place from February to May,2024.
The practice of qualifying entrants from the region has helped the sport grow from the grass roots attracting key partners such as the Uganda secondary schools sports Association and the ministry of Education and sports who ensured that Woodball is included on the Ministry of Education Ball Games calendar.
This strategy is also in line with the New Sport’s law that requires National Federations like Woodball to spread all over the country. The Uganda Woodball Federation has since embarked on a journey to move the sport to different regions.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
- 2010 ,Kyambogo college won both boys and girls in secondary category and primary was not held.
- 2011, St Francis Junior school, Buddo won primary boys, Nalunya Lwantale won primary girls, Nakaseke Core PTC won secondary boys and Nalinya Lwantale Girls won secondary girls.
- 2012,Happy Hours,Bombo won primary boys and girls, Ndejje day vocational won secondary boys and Nakaseke Core PTC won secondary girls.
- 2013,St Francis Junior, Buddo won primary boys and girls, Ndejje day vocational won both secondary boys and girls.
- 2014,Nalinya Lwantale won primary boys, Bombo Barracks won primary girls, Ndejje Day vocational won secondary boys and Kings College Buddo won secondary girls.
- 2015,St Agnes ,Entebbe won primary boys, Motherwell Junior won primary girls, Ndejje Day vocational won both secondary boys and girls.
- 2016,Green Acres,Bombo won primary boys and girls, Kyambogo College won both secondary boys and girls.
- 2017,St Kizito Bugolobi won primary boys, Green Acres,Bombo won primary girls, Luzira SS won Secondary boys and Mpoma School won Secondary girls.
- 2018, Motherwell won primary boys, Kiddawalime won primary girls, Kyambogo college won secondary boys and Luzira SS won secondary girls.
- 2019,St Agnes, Entebbe won primary boys, Buziga Islamic won primary girls, Buziga Islamic SS won both secondary boys and girls.
- 2020- was not held due to covid 19
- 2021- Was not held due to covid -19
- 2022,_Bukalabi won primary boys and girls, Luzira SS won secondary boys and Mpoma School won secondary girls.
- 2023,St Mary’s Kitooro won primary boys, Bukalabi won primary girls, Airforce SS won secondary boys and Mpoma school won secondary girls.
