Semuhara said that of late, a number of schools do not want to engage learners in such games which they take as time wastage as they keep them all the time in books, saying that is wrong.
The inaugural mind games and swimming competitions for Mukono Municipality Primary Schools have been held at St. Catherine Primary School Ssonde in Goma Division, and out of the seven participating schools, the host St. Catherine Primary School emerged winners.
The pupils participated in indoor and outdoor games including physical exercise games, table tennis, chess, scrabble, swimming and others, and were officiated over by Mukono Municipality Inspector of School, Olivia Bulya Kazibwe.
St. Thereza Namilyango Girls Boarding School ranked second followed by St, Maximus Primary School, Homeland Junior School, Life Day Academy Boarding School, Nsambwe Church of Uganda Primary School, the only government aided school and Christian Mission Fellowship Primary School.
The Municipality Sports Officer, Sylas Semuhara said the underlying objective of these games is bringing up children who are physically fit, and at the same time with the capacity to develop their talents to be able to compete in professional encounters later in life.
Semuhara said that of late, a number of schools do not want to engage learners in such games which they take as time wastage as they keep them all the time in books, saying that is wrong.
“It’s a requirement that at least each school must have a playground before it’s given an operation license from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Unfortunately, schools just leave the playgrounds idle and only consider classwork without giving children time for playing,” he noted.
He said this is the second time they are hosting this annual event with a call to other schools in the municipality to fully participate.
“I am calling upon school heads, teachers and parents to allow the children to participate in games as a way of promoting their talents and keeping them fresh and physically fit,” he urged.
The head teacher of the host school, Annet Mutyaba noted that a physically fit learner is equally mentally awake and copes well in academic performance.
Mutyaba said at the same time, sports develop talents which children use to earn a living when they grow up. This, she said, is the holistic type of education being pursued by the participating schools in such competitions from Mukono Municipality.
The Municipality Schools Inspector Olivia Bulya Kazibwe said the games are an opportunity for the children to meet and interact with their peers from different schools, and urged schools that missed the event to prepare their children for subsequent meets.
Again Bulya reasoned, the games serve to decrease the different forms of stress encountered by children, in addition to giving them an opportunity to go out for change in their routines.
Prof. Badru Kateregga Yeekokkola Omukazi Gweyeewasiza-Yankuba Olubale ku Mutwe, Angobye N’awaka
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