Sserunkuuma highlighted the disparity between Uganda and countries in Europe, where athletes are celebrated, well-paid, and held up as role models from a young age.
Sports is more than a game—it is a teacher of life, former Uganda Cranes player Geoffrey Sserunkuuma and Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich told students at Seeta High School A-Campus on Easter Monday.
Speaking during the crowning of the school’s month-long inter-house sports competition, themed “From Talent to Greatness,” the two sports icons encouraged learners to see athletics as a pathway for personal growth and potential career success.
Sserunkuuma highlighted the disparity between Uganda and countries in Europe, where athletes are celebrated, well-paid, and held up as role models from a young age.
“In those countries, children grow up inspired by sports personalities who are constantly in the limelight and rewarded for their talent,” he said. “It motivates them to work hard, and that is why those nations dominate in sports globally.”
While acknowledging government efforts to support sports in Uganda, Sserunkuuma called for increased funding and timely release of resources. He emphasized that parents and teachers play a key role in identifying and nurturing a child’s sporting talent.
“Unlike in the past, today’s young athletes can gain international recognition early because of their abilities and exposure,” he said.
Kiprotich, the day’s guest of honour, urged students to value the lessons that come with sports beyond winning medals. Through a speech read by Paul Lukundo, who works with the Parliament of Uganda Youth Forum, he reminded students that effort, courage, and perseverance are the real measures of success.
“Sports teach us teamwork because no one succeeds alone,” the speech read. “They teach resilience through challenges, injuries and discipline, because success comes to those who are consistent and committed.”
Kiprotich added that students’ talents should be their starting point, and that hard work and dedication can take them from mere potential to greatness.
School headteacher Ramadhan Songha said more than 1,000 students participated in football, netball, volleyball, and basketball competitions, representing the houses Mandela, Nkrumah, Nyerere, and Lumumba.
Seeta High School principal Davis Kafumbe said the school has remained committed to nurturing both academic excellence and sporting talent for more than 25 years.
“We promised to produce not only academic achievers but also athletes, and we are proud to see many of our best talents now representing national teams,” he said.
Lumumba House emerged as the overall winner with 277 points, followed by Nyerere House with 253, Nkrumah with 234, and Mandela with 174.
A Senior Two student, Rashimie Sounders, one of the Most Valuable Players from Lumumba House, encouraged greater participation among students, noting that some disciplines had repetitive faces due to low engagement. “I wanted my house to win, so I actively took part in most of the activities,” she said.
The event underscored a vital message from Uganda’s sporting icons: sports can shape character, teach essential life skills, and even open doors to professional opportunities if nurtured with dedication, support, and discipline.
