Kyadondo, Jinja SSS to bolster partnership

For about seven years now, Jinja Senior Secondary School has partnered with a number of clubs to identify, nurture and educate talented sportsmen and ladies.

The club has a particular mutual relationship with the Kyadondo Rugby Club which manages the Platinum Credit Heathens and the Toyota Buffaloes.

On Saturday, the school’s head teacher Isaac Balimusangayo hosted a delegation from the club headed by the honorary secretary Emma Muhangi to discuss ways to further the support.

Balimusangayo promised to promote the sport more as well as introduce bursary schemes for girls who are talented.

“Sports and education go hand in hand,” the headteacher says, “we shall push to see that more exceptional talents are catered for because sports is one way we can occupy the students’ minds when they’re out there.

“We cannot have boys rugby and side-line the ladies, our cricket and football teams have proved that the girls deserve a chance. However, we can’t do it alone; the clubs need to provide equipment for both technical and medical departments because they’re costly.

Kyadondo which currently has three players on bursary promised to support the school and several others through their schools’ outreach programme.

“We have many players who were underprivileged but have benefitted from these kinds of partnerships. We are working hard to see that we support the schools with equipment and expertise,” Muhangi said on behalf of the players.

Heathens skipper Michael Wokorach was later invited to speak to the students on half and full-bursary schemes. A good percentage of the Jinja Hippos squad that won the Nile Special 7s are products of that scheme. Owen Mugogo, also a sevens winner is among the current lot.

Timothy Byaruhanga (chairman Tororo Rugby Community), Duncan Kirya (chairman Eastern Uganda Rugby Association) and Dr. Gilbert Bayena, a pillar in Jinja rugby and medical community accompanied Muhangi.