II CLARIFICATION ON PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORT ON 16 EAST AFRICA SECoNDARv SCHooLS (FEASSA) GAMES 2017 HELD l7'.H - 27''' AUGUST 2017, sr. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE LAYIBI, GULU

1. Background

The Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games are competitions for secondary school students. The games are hosted within the school environment using existing school facilities. The first FEASSSA

Games were held in 2002 between 2 Founding members, the Republics of lJganda and Kenya, and later other member states embraced the activity, the latest affiliation being of South Sudan. The other members areTanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi. since 2002 has hosted these Games six times and the most recent games were hosted from lTth - 27th August 2017 at St. Joseph's College,

Layibi, in Gulu District. The record of Uganda hosting FEASSA Games is as shown below:

YEAR SCHOOL CITY/TOWN

2003 Kabojja International

2005 Ntare School

2009 St Leo's College, Fort Portal Kyegobe

2011 Ntare School Mbarara

2013 I-ango College I.ira

20t7 St Joseph's College Gulu Layibi

1 16TH EAST AFRICA SECONDARY SCHOOLS (TEASSA) GAMES 2017 HELD 17TH .27TH AUGUST 2017, ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE LAYIBI, GULU

Background to Uganda Hosting 2017 FEASSA

Uganda did not bid to host 2017 FEASSA. Uganda was requested by FEASSSA to host in August 2}l6,the 15'h Edition of the Games hosted by Kenya in Eldoret.

The request for Uganda to host the 2017 Games was made at the closing ceremony of the 15th Edition of FEASSSA Games in Eldoret, Kenya, following notification by the designated host country Tanzania, that it was unable to host the

Games

Uganda was requested because of successful previous hostings, and as a founder FEASSSA member, upon the consensus of all member countries.

Uganda was officially notified about Tanzania's failure to host the activity, and officially requested to host, in March 2017. Following the official notification and request, applications by schools to host the activity were received from three schools, viz, St. Joseph's College Layibi, Masaka S.S and Ntare School. The three

schools were inspected to ascertain their potential to host the games. St. Joseph's Laytbi, Gulu District, and Layibi College Old Boys Association (LACOBA) (LACOBA pledged contribution of constructing swimming pool) exhibited highest potential and gave commitments and assurances to partner in preparing for, and hosting the Games.

2 5.1 STATE OF SPORTING FACILITIES IN HOST SCHOOLS

The Ministry did not provide in its budget funds for construction of the swimming pool in Layibi as this was a commitment made by LACOBA, that it would construct the Swimming Pool and have it ready for use by the time of the games;

The Ministry together with FEASSSA officials inspected Gulu for readiness to host and received assurance of key stakeholders as below:

1 The two Host schools (Layibi in partnership with Sacred Heart Girls

S.) had the backing of their Old Students Association, the local District Authorities; ll The Old Students of St Joseph college Layibi gave assurance that LACOBA would be able to put up a standard swimming pool in a period of 6 months;

lll. The Head teacher of Layibi College gaye assurance that the school will put in place 2 and 2 Tennis courts and the school would source and secure the necessary funds;

IV The Headteacher further gave assurance that the school was ready to renovate all the dormitories and other school infrastructure in time as recommended by the FEASSSA inspection team;

V Other facilities namely the football fields, Rugby fields, Handball Courts, Netball Courts, Racket and Bat games, and Hockey fields were ready by the time of the games;

v1. Despite the Basketball Courts at St. Joseph College Layibi not being ready during inspection, the Basketball facilities at Kaunda Boma Grounds were also inspected and chosen for use during the games;

3 vii. It should also be noted that the competitions' swimming pool is not the one used for practice. The various teams are expected to train from other private swimming pools, normally at a fee. In the other countries e.g. Rwanda (Huye) and Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam) for example all

participating countries paid for outside facilities for practice, because host schools generally lack swimming facilities; viii. It is important to note that on all occasions of venues inspections and Organizing Committee meetings, LACOBA, basing on its initial fundraising contributions from its members and projections, were confident and gave assurance that the swimming pool would be completed and ready for use before the games commencement (Copy of the report of the inspection is uttached for ease of reference). As the Games neared, un-anticipated challenges arose, which LACOBA, working with MOES and Gulu District Local Government (G D L G)

managed to address.

5.2 THE SWIMMING POOL (At St. Joseph's College Layibi)

a) At the time of the first venues inspection, and agreements by stakeholders, the Layibi Old Boys Association (LACOBA) undertook to construct to

completion the Swimming pool as their (LACOBA) legacy project;

b) Financial donations and other support were mobilized from different sources for the swimming pool project by the Old Boys, €.9. MS Millers donated tiles which at the time of fitting were found to be inadequate and not recommended for construction of a swimming pool. Consequently alternative plans and materials at un-anticipated costs had be made and

secured;

4 c) LACOBA also indicated it had secured a pledge from IIPDF 4th Division to construct the perimeter fence around the swimming pool. This was later done following a State House directive. d) Initially works at the swimming pool progressed very well according to the schedule provided by LACOBA, however towards the end works slowed down for two main reasons: i. There diminishing rate of anticipated contributions by LACOBA members. Less funds than anticipated and planned were received; ii. The heavy rain that fell in August stagnated work progress e) It was only after the LACOBA realized they would not meet their target that I-ACOBA requested for support from the Ministry on the swimming pool project;

0 The Ministry had a budget of UGX. 30,000,000: for construction of one Basketball Court at St. Joseph's College Layibi which funds reached the school Account at the time when the priority challenge was completion of the swimming pool. With the consent of the Ministry and Games organizing Clommittee, this money was rechanneled towards completion of the swimming pool; g) Also, at the reqtiest of the Permanent Secretary, MOES, the Permanent Secretary Ministrv of Water and Environment provided the Water pump (Of UGX 51,000,000:) and plumbing pipes (UGX 21,000,000:) for the swimming pool from David and Shirt leaf in Kampala.

5 5.3. STATE OF PECE STADIUM

The Gulu District Local Government in their bid to host the championship pledged to upgrade the stadium and make it functional by the time of the games. This works Gulu District did to near completion by the time of the games. Specifically:

a) The pavilion was fully renovated to agreed FEASSSA standards, as promised by Gulu District; b) Perimeter wall was constructed and slots were allocated to sponsors to

advertise as a give back to the community; c) The field was overhauled, compacted and new grass planted by local community as agreed; d) The murram running track was leveled and compacted although the heavy rains affected some portion of it which had to be re-done. The rain also affected the marking of the running tracks (Marking of the track though is a continuous process), which is done by technical officials assigned by the MOES; e) To accommodate the large number of spectators that this championship attracts, the Ministry provided Mobile toilets to supplement the existing facilities at the stadium, and; 0 The MOES also provided to Gulu District Local Government UGX. 20,000,000: as contribution towards support the works at Pece Stadium.

5.4. STUDENTS' ACCOMMODATION

a) The bidding host schools in their bids and acceptance to host agreed as a pre-condition to facelift the dormitories; improve lighting system, sanitation

and drainage as per the recommendation of FEASSSA. In this case this face-

6 lifting was to be done by St. Joseph's Layibi, and Sacred Heart Girls SS. The

schools, within their means, did good work in this regard;

b) AT FEASSSA Games participants pay US$ 7 per participant per day to the host schools for feeding and accommodation. It is from these funds that the host schools provide mattresses and feeding to all participants. The host schools were made aware of this position and they assured the inspection

team that they have the capacity to handle. The host schools did a good job

appreciated by all foreign and Ugandan teams and delegations.

5.5 FUNDING FOR THE GAMES

a MOES required over UGX.I .3Bn for the FEASSSA Games. However only UGX. 428, 626,652 was provided at the Ministry for the Games under two Programmes; L Secondary Education - Programme 3: UGX. 203,626,652:; II. Physical Education and Sports - Programme 12: UGX. 233,700,000:.

The Ministry using the above funds, which was quite inadequate, covered the following areas:

o Paid registration fee of US $100 for each Team of lJganda, o Paid US$ 4 student per day for l0 days for all Uganda's participants (Except Swimming and Athletics teams); to cater for accommodation and

feeding.

. These funds were also utilized for training, welfare and transportation of swimming and athletic teams, o Paid US$ 7 per day per participant for 10 days for swimming and athletics

teams,

7 o Purchased General Team Uniforms for all participants and competitions

support materials,

o Paid allowance to Umpires/ referees and Team Officials and supponed the

ceremonles.

5.6. FEASSSA FUNDING

It should be noted that FEASSSA receives US$ 7 per participant per day for 10 days from participating countries as the teams arrive. The money is remitted directly to the host schools accordingly. By the end of the games all the funds received for feeding and accommodation from participants will have been remitted to the host schools.

5.7. EFFORTS OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTTEE

The issues raised by the Gulu Local Organizing Committee (LOC) were some of their commitments to the FEASSSA Inspection team and the Ministry that they would fulfill to renovate the stadium;

It is normal and recommended for Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) I Districts / Schools etc to solicit for support and sponsorship when hosting any major international sports activity like FEASSA Games. The Ministry was not aware of the Stoke City arrangement to partner with Gulu Town Council to reconstruct Pece Stadium. The request brought for the attention of the Ministry was the request of the Gulu LOC to the Office of the Prime Minister seeking for further support, which was referred back to MOES.

The MOES recognizes and appreciates the contributions of all organizations and individuals, including Parliament and its individual members, towards the successful hosting of the Gulu Games

8 5.8 LACK OF COORDINATION

a) There was constant communication and coordination between the LOC and the NOC. The General Secretary USSSA was released by the Ministry from his school Old Kampala and was based in Gulu giving technical direction, together with officials from sports Federations. The GS/USSSA coordinated with and provided constant updates on all activities on daily basis; The NOC held several meetings at Layibi College, LCV Offices, Pece Stadium, and at all venues several times before, during and after the Games;

b) There was always a formal meeting whenever the NOC members visited Gulu to monitor and supervise progress'

6.0. OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATION

a) The Ministry did its best within its means. We are grateful that the MOES uphill efforts with limited resources for this activity finally got the attention it deserved. We hope for Parliaments continued support for better consideration for schools sports programmes like the National Championships and E.A. FEASSA Games in future.

b) For a long time, funding for sports has not allowed full funding of our teams by the Ministry, and therefore schools have to meet or contribute to budgets including for feeding and accommodation, and transporting respective

teams. It should be noted that schools used to meet the full US $ 7 per day per participant but the MOES since 4 years ago has taken up paying contribution of US $4 per student per day thereby relieving schools of meeting the fu

9 fee. Schools now pay US $3, but it is the wish and hope of MOES that in future Government allocates adequate funds for the MoES to fully meet the funding needs for school sPorts. c) Involvement of East Africa Community Affairs (EAC): -FEASSSA as an organization was founded before the EAC, and has been accountable to its General Assembly of the Member States; d) FEASSA has always worked toward forging closer working relations with the EAC, and has regularly invited the EAC to its Games. The Hon. Jessica Eryio among others from the EAC has graced FEASSA activities; e) The presence of the Parliament's Committee on Education in Gulu was welcome, however MOES was not notified in time and the minister was not aware of tem until the previous night when he returned to the country.

0 About the Minister's hostility with the Members of Parliament, the pressure exerted by the team to the Hon Minister of Sports and the manner some of them behaved the previous night and talked against him as a person and a fellow MP was un professional. An instance to be referred is when the Honorable Members found him the following morning addressing the Technical Team and wanted to exert powers over him but that was temporary and they eventually all laughed and worked together. g) The recommendations by the Parliamentary committee will be taken into account by the relevant stakeholders with a view to implementing the possible areas within the jurisdiction of Uganda, and raising others with the

other E.A. FEASSA members.

10 h) With regards to the Minister chairing all NOC meetings and staying in Gulu, it is always a practice that the Minister convenes the first meeting inaugurates the NOC, and delegates one officer to continue chairing

subsequent meetings but can come in when required because of his busy schedule. The Minister can however chair any NOC meetings depending on his schedule of the activities,

7.0 CONCLUSION

Despite its challenges the 16th Edition of FEASSSA Games held in Gulu has been rated very highly by the member states as being the most successful Games. The

Games registered the highest number of participants (3500) and spectators, public and left behind physical infrastructure like an Olympic standard Swimming Pool, a renovated Pece stadium, 2 re-constructed Basketball Courts (2 layibi College, 2 at Kawunda's ground).

In addition, the Games contributed greatly in bringing in increased local revenue in Gulu from sports related activities (Transport, food, accommodation, entertainment, car-wash, fuel etc., and also promoting Gulu in particular and Uganda to all over E. Africa and beyond for business and tourism, as a peaceful and welcoming Region and Country.

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