Muslim students’ sports gala promotes unity
By Matovu Sulaiman – Guest Writer
The Muslim Students’ Association of Uganda (MSAU) functions as the paramount umbrella organization dedicated to unifying and orchestrating all activities involving Muslim students across the entire educational spectrum within Uganda, encompassing pupils and scholars from primary institutions up through the tertiary university level.
Within the MSAU’s comprehensive hierarchical framework of regional and district structures, the Central Region Executive Council holds the position of the fifth level. This crucial regional body is entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and overseeing the activities of all 25 districts situated within Uganda’s Central Region, which notably includes Nakasongola District.
The formation of the Nakasongola District Executive Council (DEC) represents a significant development within this structure. It was formally established in the year 2023 during the leadership tenure of the Senior President of MSAU, Mubiru Musa, and the Senior Chairman of the Central Region Executive Council, Kakooza Shafik.
The inaugural meeting and formation ceremony took place at Nakasongola Muslim Senior Secondary School. This event saw the appointment of the full slate of district executive members alongside the designation of three dedicated district patrons. Consequently, Nakasongola Muslim Senior Secondary School holds the distinct honour of being recognized as the foundational birthplace and root of the Nakasongola District Executive Council. This initiative received essential support and facilitation from the school’s Head Teacher, Bantumbya Abdul Majid, who accepted the role of District Patron and continues to serve in this capacity, ably assisted by his two deputy patrons.
Operating under the ongoing guidance, mentorship, and oversight of the Central Region Executive Council, the newly formed Nakasongola District Executive Council successfully undertook the organization and execution of its very first district-wide event: a comprehensive Sports Gala. This occasion was hosted at Migeera UMEA Primary School on Wednesday.
The Sports Gala stands as one of the core activities actively promoted and organized by District Executive Councils throughout the various regions of Uganda. Its primary function is to foster unity and camaraderie among students drawn from diverse educational levels, contingent upon the specific objectives set forth by the organizing DEC committee.
In this particular instance, the Nakasongola District Executive Council orchestrated its 1st Annual Sports Gala specifically targeting all secondary schools located within Nakasongola District. The event was conducted under the theme: “Promoting Teamwork, Discipline, and Healthy Competitions.”
For this inaugural Nakasongola event, the organizing committee strategically planned to feature five distinct competitive activities within the available timeframe. These selected games included:
- Football
- Netball
- Tug of War
- Sack Race
- Bottle Filling
The impetus behind empowering the Nakasongola District Executive Council to organize this Annual Sports Gala competition for all students within the district was multifaceted.
A key objective was to actively nurture and promote the core values of unity, teamwork, discipline, and healthy competition specifically among the Muslim student population residing in Nakasongola District.
It is important to emphasize, however, that the event was intentionally designed to be inclusive; participation was enthusiastically extended to all students within the district’s secondary schools, irrespective of religious affiliation, resulting in broad involvement beyond just the Muslim community.
Furthermore, the activity served a vital secondary purpose: to raise awareness and increase visibility for the newly established Nakasongola District Executive Council (DEC) itself, operating under the auspices of the national Muslim Students’ Association of Uganda (MSAU), thereby solidifying its presence and role within the district’s educational and community landscape.
SENIOR CENTRAL REGION CHAIRMAN HASSAN WASSWA AWARDING THE WINNER DURING THE NAKASONGOLA ANNUAL SPORTS GALA.
BOTTLE FILLING BY SOME PARTICIPANTS OF THE SPORTS GALA.
