After multiple consultations with different sports stakeholders, Ndejje University is in final steps of kicking off the first ever Sports Medicine course, which has been termed as a game-changer for Uganda’s sporting profession.
The three-year Bachelor programme will take learners through an in-depth training on injury diagnosis and management as well as field-related care for athletes during emergency, rehabilitation and return to sports.
According to officials at Ndejje University, they want to introduce the course to bridge the manpower gap for specialised care for sports personalities on and off the pitch.
“Our job as stakeholders at this meeting where Ndejje University is presenting the proposed draft for the sports medicine curriculum is to give guidance, discuss the relevance of the programme in an era where we do not have such a program at any of the Ugandan universities,” Prof Eriabu Lugujjo, the Ndejje University Vice-Chancellor said.
The meeting was graced officials from the National Council of Sports and the National Council of Higher Education, university game tutors, sports administrators and representatives from paramedical institutions.
“We believe the net is wide open for the job market for professionals in Sports Medicine. In Uganda, we only have a handful of these professionals,” Prof Lugujjo added.
The drafted curriculum which awaits approval was spearheaded by a team led by Dr Haruna Muwonge. The University plans to start the sports medicine course next academic year, if approved.
“We still find gaps in the management of athletes’ injuries including the rehabilitation process. The injury management at many of our health facilities does not add up to the optimal care required for the nature of injuries and the response care on and off the pitch” Dr Muwonge said.
