President Museveni Praises Speaker Among's Development Efforts in Bukedea

President Yoweri Museveni has commended Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among for her significant efforts to uplift the people of Bukedea District from poverty. The President acknowledged Speaker Among's contributions to development in the region, emphasizing her role in transforming the lives of the poor. 

The President of Uganda made the remarks while officially opening the 21st edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games at a newly constructed sports facility in Bukedea District on Sunday 18th August 2024.

"I would like to thank the Rt. Hon. Anita Among and her colleagues for developing the new stadium at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner," President Museveni stated.  Adding that, "This should serve as an example to others so that we can develop similar facilities in other parts of the country."

President Museveni also urged the youth of East Africa to view the East African Federation as a platform not just for sports, but also for enhancing strategic security and prosperity across the region.

"You cannot live a good life without engaging in the production of goods or services," Museveni noted, highlighting the longstanding experience of Uganda in wealth creation, which has been shared with other East African nations.

About the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games

The 21st edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games commenced with great fanfare on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at Bukedea Comprehensive School Stadium. The event, hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive School and co-hosted by Amus College, drew teams from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The games officially began with an elaborate opening ceremony that showcased the unity and spirit of East African youth. Before inaugurating the games, President Yoweri Museveni commissioned a new sports complex at Bukedea Comprehensive School, which includes a state-of-the-art football stadium, an indoor sports arena, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Bukedea Comprehensive School is owned by Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.

"We are proud to host these games and showcase our commitment to sports development in the region," said President Museveni during the ceremony.

A total of 3,526 participants from five countries are competing in this year’s games, with Uganda fielding the largest contingent of 1,590 athletes. Kenya follows with 1,300 participants, Tanzania with 443, Rwanda with 162, and Burundi with 31. Notably, South Sudan is not participating in the 2024 games.

Youth Participation in Regional Integration Highlighted

During the opening ceremony, Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the East African integration process. He encouraged the athletes to uphold the values of integrity and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Ogwang also highlighted Uganda’s progress in developing sports infrastructure, particularly in preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, under the East Africa Pamoja initiative. "These facilities are not only for the games but are part of our broader vision to position Uganda as a sporting powerhouse in the region," he noted.

FEASSA President Commends Museveni’s Support

FEASSA President Justus Mugisha expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his unwavering support and for being the first head of state to attend a FEASSA event. Uganda, which is hosting the games for the seventh time, has set a new standard for the organization and execution of the event, Mugisha remarked.

"We are honored by the presence of President Museveni, and we hope this sets a precedent for future games," Mugisha said.

The games, which run for a week, are expected to foster regional unity and camaraderie among the youth of East Africa, further strengthening ties across the participating nations.

After the sports event, President Museveni addressed a rally in Kachumbala Sub County, where he reiterated the National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s commitment to wealth creation and the continuous development of the region.