By Irene Best Nyapendi
In only two months, Uganda Christian University (UCU) organized the country’s premier university sports competition and came in second best. 

UCU was the best in the women’s category among the 21 competing universities. UCU scooped gold in women’s soccer; men’s and women’s volleyball (2); women’s and men’s basketball (2) and men’s tennis – six gold medals overall. UCU bagged silver in athletics (two for men and women), table tennis and netball. Team UCU got bronze in women’s swimming and men’s rugby 7s. The other games at the competition were badminton, chess, darts, handball, karate, pool table, scrabble, table tennis and woodball.

Ndejje University was the first and Makerere University was third in the 19th edition of the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) at UCU’s main campus in Mukono Dec.16-21, 2023.

UCU stepped up to host the games in a record two-month timeframe — a feat usually undertaken in a span of 18 months. The event, which was previously scheduled to be held at Makerere University, landed at UCU’s doorstep on short notice, and the university embraced the challenge with open arms.

Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the Vice Chancellor of UCU and the host of the event, played a pivotal role in the success of the games. He expressed UCU’s readiness to face challenges and their eagerness to host the next AUUS games.

“As a sports powerhouse, UCU is honored to partner with AUUS and other sponsors to ensure successful inter-university games in 2023,” Mushengyezi said. “At UCU, we don’t fear challenges; we take the bull by the horns. It was right and fitting to celebrate what unites us and that is sports.”

UCU previously hosted the games in 2007 and 2013. In 2014, it hosted the Eastern Africa Inter-University Games, which align the region’s universities in a sporting competition.

Mushengyezi congratulated all universities that participated and expressed gratitude to AUUS for injecting funds in UCU, contributing to the refurbishment of the sports facilities.

Peninah Kabenge, the AUUS president, thanked UCU for being gracious hosts and commended the unity displayed throughout the event. She emphasized the historical significance of the games and encouraged athletes to recognize that their journey doesn’t end at the university games. She said the skills honed will forever be etched in the history of the AUUS Games.

Prof. Lawrence Muganga, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, lauded UCU for hosting the games and putting up an exceptional show. “I will not stop thanking UCU because it has done a mighty job. In two months, they have managed to put together a world-class event,” he said.

UCU Games Recap: Highlights and Moments

The UCU Lady Doves (UCU female volleyball players) triumphed throughout the tournament, winning all their games. In the volleyball finals, the UCU Lady Doves secured a victory against Kampala University. Sandra Ikiring, the Lady Doves captain, who was participating in the AUUS games for the first time, was elated.

“I am so happy. The team we played against (in the finals) was good, but we were better,” Ikiring said. “We focused on our reception and defense, which helped us win, and our services were so good, which gave the opponent a challenge.”

In men’s basketball, UCU Canons towered above Ndejje University with a massive victory of 109:78. In women’s basketball, UCU Lady Canons trounced Makerere University Business School 70:45.

UCU Canons’ coach, Emmanuel Kiguyi, credited the basketball victory to the teams’ hard work and exceptional shooting skills.

“We played very well. We defended well and the boys really shot the ball well,” Kiguyi said. In the netball finals, UCU lost a closely contested match against Victoria University by just one point (final score was 52:51).

Canons player, Peter Sifuma, said the team’s “goal was to clinch gold”. He expressed gratitude to the university which offers the sportsmen scholarships to pursue their academics as they represented the institution in the sports arena. 

Tennis gold medalist Trevor Solomon Kazibwe, a first-year student and first-time participant in the games, was thrilled to win a medal and trophy for the university. 

Sharifu Olipa, UCU athletics captain and 100m gold medalist, was full of good cheer at UCU’s achievement.

 “I am proud of my athletics team. They performed well and that’s how we managed to get the first runners-up place,” he said.

The AUUS games have a history dating back to 1992, when AUUS was formed. Originally known as the National Sports Federation of Uganda (NUSFU), it was founded by four higher institutions of learning — Makerere, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo University and Islamic University in Uganda.

This year’s edition marked 30 years of sports excellence.