Closed Makerere to miss East African University Games

Makerere University, that has been closed for over a month now, will miss the 10th edition of the East Africa University Games.

Simon Busuulwa, the General Secretary of Makerere Games Union, said they have contacted the Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni about the matter to no avail.

“A petition to the Minister in charge was drafted requesting her to allow the university to fund our sportsmen and women but it failed,” he said.

It should be remembered that Makerere University have emerged overall winners of the East African University Games for a record 6 times consecutively, ever since the inauguration of the games in 1999.

Eastern Africa has been championing regional economic integration to create a common market for goods produced in various sectors in each member state. In a quest to play its part in regional integration, the East Africa University Sports Federation introduced the East Africa Universities Games.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture will host the 10th East Africa University Games that will begin on December 16, 2016.

Makerere unfortunately no be able to participate in the games after the university was indefinitely closed by President Museveni on  November 1, 2016, and all inland and international travels on behalf of the institution banned too until further notice.

The games, awarded on a rotational basis within member states, were established in 1999 with the aim of promoting youth development and unity among East African countries through sports. The games bring together participating teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.

The defending champions are Ndejje University of Uganda.

Previous Winners:

1999 – Egerton University Kenya.

2000 – Makerere University Uganda.

2002 – Makerere University Uganda.

2004 – Makerere University Uganda.

2006 – Makerere University Uganda.

2008 – Makerere University Uganda.

2010 – Makerere University Uganda.

2012 – Ndejje University Uganda.

2014 – Ndejje University Uganda.