Hon. Ogwang took over the office docket from Dennis Hamson Obua who was elevated to the chief whip position.

Hon. Ogwang traveled to Lira to officiate at the closing of the 2022 Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) Ball Games II.

While in Lira city, Hon. Ogwang watched finals of athletics, volleyball, handball, netball and dancesport.

In between these different finals, he was granted a once in a life-time opportunity to handle the woodball mallet.

Swiftly, with the guidance of the Uganda Woodball Federation (UWbF) vice president Shannez Luwedde, the vibrant minister learnt the few basics of the game.

Firmly rooted on the ground, he expertly scored through the gate with the wooden ball, much to the applause of the ecstatic crowd.

“It feels good to play woodball for the very first time. I will always play the game” he added.

Minister Ogwang joins the high class personalities who have played woodball.

President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, the First Lady Janet Museveni have also played this game that has different similarities to golf.

Woodball is among the new sports disciplines on the menu of Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA).

The 6^th Kenya International Woodball Open and the 2022 Africa Woodball Championship will be hosted by Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega between the 11th to 13th of November 2022.

Makerere University Business School (MUBS) is one of the teams that will represent Uganda at these championships which are organized by the Kenya Woodball Federation.

MUBS is keen to stage an impressive display and performance at the tournament in the singles, stroke, doubles, and mixed doubles.

MUBS Ladies team has the likes of Florence Mukoya, Victoria Ngabire, Shakira Nabirye, Rhoda Nandugga Nakigozi, Immaculate Mirembe, Anita Nyesiga, Sharon Ninsiima, Mary Namara and Agnes Nalukwata.

The men team has Ronald Mulindwa, Davis Wabusa, Edwin Akanyijuka, Philbert Niwagaba, Mark Aryatwijuka, Anthony Tushabe, Akim Bakashaba, Albert Micheal Aikin, Samuel Charles Ongom, Enock Mulwana, Amos Kakuru Niwamanya Edmund Katusiime and Edwin Akanyijuka.

The team officials are Julius Agaba Kabisha (head coach), Juma Adam Kato (assistant team manager), Hillary Kimbugwe (team manager), and Solomon Ndaula (medical personnel).

Since February 2022, MUBS Woodball Team has engaged in the beach circuits, Kyambogo Open, Women’s Day Open, Ndejje University Open, President’s cup, Ndejje Corporate, recently concluded 13^th Uganda Open in Mbale city, and the national league.

The Nakawa-based institution is expected to depart the country three days prior to the event.

Last year, MUBS won the Africa wood ball championship held in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi city in Kenya.

Uganda won the overall title both in the men’s and women’s categories after amassing a whopping total of 14 medals which included 7 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze.

Hosts Kenya had a total of 15 medals (4 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze).

According to Samuel Litaba, the secretary general of the Kenya Woodball Federation, the 6^th Kenya International woodball championship will have varying categories as singles, team stroke, fairway, doubles, mixed doubles, and corporates (stroke).

The championships in Kenya will be used as a precursor to the forthcoming Eastern Africa University championship that will be hosted at Ndejje University (15^th to 21^st December 2022).

• Event:6^th Kenya International Woodball Open & Africa Woodball Meet:
• Dates: 11^th– 13^th November 2022
• Venue: Masinde Muliro University, Kakamega

Passion. Hope. Glory. All three will come into play on Saturday at Maria Goretti Katende School in Mpigi when the ICPAU Junior Woodball Championship is held.

The junior championship, which has grown immensely over the years, is the benchmark for future players who dream to play for the national team and the stakes will be even higher this year.

 Lyiora Asasira, Idris Neteese, Esther Chebet, Annet Nabwire and Martha Namulema give Mpoma School an upper hand in their title defence in the girls' category.

 The squad was excellent during the Women’s Day woodball championship lifting gold in the youth category while they came out smelling the roses in the Mukono qualifiers where they dominated the podium.

 Saturday will show how far they have progressed since March.

But Airforce SS Entebbe will unleash Amina Nalujja while Martha Kisakye will defend her pride at home.

 Kisakye is a student of the host school and playing before her fellow students will offer a psychological boost.

 The contest will be made unpredictable by Bukalabi SS, who have most of the players under Bonna Baana, a national league outfit.

20 schools each from primary and secondary levels will compete at the national event which has been held since 2010.

 The boys' battle will be between defending champions Luzira and spiced by Airforce, Our Lady of Africa Namilyango and The Amazima School.

Befitting package

To enable proper preparations, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) donated Shs15m to the organisers as an appreciation.

 "We appreciate the role sports is playing in modelling responsible students. As ICPAU, we value this partnership as the tournament has been growing immensely," Julian Namale Muweesi, the Head of Stakeholder Engagement at the institute, said during a ceremony at the woodball head offices in Nakulabye.

Since 2010 when the championship started with 56 participants, the juniors have increased tremendously with a record 1,160 taking part in the 2018 edition before qualifiers were introduced. This year, 400 students will participate after regional qualifiers that were held between February and April.

 Paul Mark Kayongo, the president of the Uganda Woodball Federation (UWbF) stressed the role of schools in developing the sport.

"We made a deliberate effort to grow this young sport through schools and universities. This junior’s championship is important in preparing athletes for bigger assignments in future while helping the sport grow from the grassroots," Kayongo said.

 Qualified schools

Primary: Ahmadiyya, Bukalabi, Embrace Kulture, Friends International Academy, Gayaza Junior, Ikrah Education Centre, Kabaseegu, Kazo Mixed, Kirinnya Inclusive, Kiwafu Muslim, Kyazanga Modern, Luyembe, Lwentale, Magoma RC. Motherwell, Nakateete, Nalugala Muslim, Ssanga, St Mary’s Kitooro and St Francis Buddo.

 Secondary: Airforce, Entebbe Comprehensive, Imran, Johnhill, Kaasangombe, Kazo, Kijjabweni, Luzira, Mengo, Mityana, Mpoma, Nakateete, Our Lady of Africa Namilyango, Pope John Paul, Sseke, St Maria Goretti Katende, St Joseph’s Naggalama, St Mark Namagoma, The Amazima School & Trinity College Nabbingo.

ICPAU Junior Woodball

Venue: St Maria Gorreti Katende

Date: 25 June, 2022

Mpoma School claimed Mukono Schools Woodball championship on Saturday, defeating Our Lady of Africa Namilyango and St Joseph’s SS Naggalama.