The Federation of Tug Of War Association (FUTWA) together with the Uganda Prisons service sports department organized a 2day Tug of War capacity building training that came to an end on Saturday. 24th. February. 2024 at Luzira Prisons, Maroons Stadium.

The workshop that kicked off on Friday. 23rd. February attracted more than 60 officers from the Uganda Prisons and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces, Air force division Entebbe.

Upon completion, the officers all attached to the sports department of the two institutions received a Level1 training certificate. The training was part of the many capacity building workshops the federation intends to carry out around the country to ensure the game gets more than 75% national presence as per the National Council of Sports Guidelines.

As a way to professionalize the sport of Tug of war in Uganda, this level of capacity building mainly focuses on the introduction of the game and basic skills of play and officiating. The training was the first of it's kind since the establishment of the federation in 2020, and it was a warmly welcome by all trainees present who showed readiness to train more people from their respective regions of operation and organizations.

“I thank very much the federation of tug of war in Uganda for bringing as this new sport. So far in my experience, It is tough but fun at capable of attracting big crowds in the short time. I believe, if we give it time we shall build a great team since it’s a physical and technical sport," said Lubangangeyo Samuel, Principle Officer 1, Luzira Upper prison.

“I have picked more interest in this game yet it’s my first time participating in it. I thank so much the federation of tug of war sport in Uganda for thinking about bringing this sport to us the prisons officers. The training we have gotten for the two days has given us more information on both how to play the game and also be judges and with more training I feel ready to take on any team. We are going to train more of our fellow officers who were not here today so as to develop the sport. I will fight hard to be part of the prisons tug of war team," said Brenda Amolo, Uganda Prisons officer from Kigo women’s prison.

The two days’ workshop climaxed with a friendly game between Uganda Prisons and UPDF Air force sports department which ended in 2 back to back rounds win in favor of Uganda Prisons. This very game attracted so many spectators who were witnessing it for the first time.

‘’I am excited that we have under taken this training here in Luzira Uganda Prisons just like it has been with our visits to schools and communities," said Mayanja Ronald Omugalanda, FUTWA General Secretary.

We are on a mission to develop talent through the sport of Tug of War and out to ensure our presence of over 75% active participation across the nation. The journey is very impressive and the game has been embraced in places we have so far moved to. This achievement is attributed to the fact that this game is basically easy to learn, master and play; on top of being characterized with a lot of fun. This workshop is simply one of the many workshops for tug of war sport capacity building that the federation is looking forward to hold from time to time in order introduce, promote and develop the sport as we look forward for engagements from the Grate lakes region, at the African continent and also at international level. We call upon everyone out there to join us as we move this sport to greater heights and also cover for youths and elderly both male and female who feel they have been left out in other sports disciplines. As FUTWA, we are so much delighted working with the Uganda Prisons Service," added Mayanja Ronald Omugalanda, FUTWA General Secretary.

"Our main goal is to develop the sport of tug of war from all levels where we come from because the development of sports starts with who are in sports. I argue each one of you to take this game down at your village and district levels, and form teams or associations. We shall come as the FUTWA upon your invitation to give such workshops to increase the numbers. We are moving around the country creating more partnerships with different sports stake holders just like we did with Uganda Prisons Service Sports Department, UPDF Air force Sports, Education and Culture department, and we need more on board." Said Kintu Edmund FUTWA President

Story by Jjuuko Alan Joel. S sportznow.ug Writer

@JjuukoJoel