RUKIGA- Nyakagabagaba Football club on Thursday May 9th 2024 emerged winners of Dr. Sylvia’s youths’ football tournament after defeating Kashekye football club by a goal to nil.
The only goal in the final game at Bukinda Core Primary Teachers College playground in Bukinda Town Council was scored in the first half of the game in a tournament that attracted 16 teams from all the sub counties across Rukiga district.
The winners Nyakagabagaba went home with a trophy, Ugx 2M cash prize, gold medals as well as football on top other goodies like full kit jerseys and footballs. The first runners up Kashekye Football club bagged a Ugx 1 million cash prize all courtesy of Dr Sylvia Arinaitwe, the Deputy Managing Director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation in Charge of Finance and Corporate Strategy.
The NWSC Deputy Managing director also announced that the winners will on Friday May 17th 2024 face off with the Parliamentary team that is set to visit Rukiga District.
Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe remarked that it was all joy and attributed this success to the almighty stressing that it was supposed to have been played during Easter holidays but her father’s death forced the organizers to change the schedule to another day.
She hailed the organizing committee for the job well done from the time the tournament started and was pleased to host teams from the Office of the National Chairman- ONC, patriotic League of Uganda- PLU for a hand ushered to her during this tournament organization.
Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe emphasized a need for engagement in sports stressing that it boosts the country’s economy as well as the economic welfare of the sportsmen and women.
“The tournament was aimed at talent identification and development, which is essential since one can earn a living from their talents. That’s why we have the deputy Federation of Uganda Football Association as our chief guest today. Don’t get surprised if some of our players are spotted into big teams at the national level” Dr. Arinaitwe said.
Kiiza Innocent, FUFA vice President showcased emphasis for engaging in sports stressing that Dr. Sylvia’s initiative lies in line with the FUFA agenda of developing talents for survival among Ugandans and rallied the community to support her initiative aimed at developing their community for good.
Kiiza added that football is a unifier that helps the youths to desist from peer influence that might ruin their lives and was surprised with the talents in Rukiga promising to follow them up so that they take a turn on their career.
At the same event, he unveiled Zakayo, a football manufactured by FUFA and promised to send 20 more footballs for Rukiga youths to concentrate on talent development for future sustenance.
He also promised a special arrangement for Kigezi Region including referees, coaches and administrators courses adding that this is only through Dr Sylvia Arinaitwe who has shown interest in becoming Rukiga district’s new dawn.
Barbra Ainebyoona and Barbra Kyasiimire Christmas, the newly appointed Assistant Resident District Commissioners hailing from Rukiga district pointed out that the president sent them to welcome any developmental citizens especially the subsistence farming that advocates for poverty alleviation.
The duo hailed Dr Sylvia Arinaitwe for fostering president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s development agenda that is aimed at getting Ugandans out of poverty asserting that the hoes and pangas Dr Sylvia recently donated to the community have been so instrumental in positively impacting on people’s lives.
The Kabale District boss Nelson Nshangabashaija aka Baba noted that Rukiga has gotten treasure in Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe rallying the public to do the needful once time is due.
Nshangabashaija who subscribes to the Patriotic League of Uganda PLU praised the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for appointing Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba the head of PLU to Command Uganda’s army- UPDF asserting that it’s the reason the Country is peaceful.
George William Kanagizi the Kigezi Region Presidential Advisor stressed that Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe has come at a time when Rukiga needs her the most since all her initiatives are directly in line with NRM’s agenda of alleviating households from poverty.
Kanagizi added that Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe’s tournament has brought Rukiga district talents to the entire world and will in future lead to development of amenities such as stadiums that are prudent in financing the country’s monetary needs.
The function was attended by PLU members from Kigezi and Ankole, a number of Clergy from all religious sects, Political leaders including the former Kitanga Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda, business community, administrators at Bukinda Core Primary Teachers College, the Kayorero village Chairperson Jeriminah Kagwa, thousands of sports fans from Rukiga district and beyond among others.
The day was also spiced up with performances from Western Uganda’s best artistes including Happy Alex, Lillian Nabasa and Rab J Ekyafayo.
