By Sylvia
Tooro Kingdom has officially launched an inter-clan football tournament in a move aimed at promoting unity and advancing sports development across the region.
The launch event, held yesterday in Fort Portal, also marked a significant milestone as the kingdom handed over land for the construction of the much-anticipated King Oyo Stadium to the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening sports in the kingdom. He emphasized the importance of community support, urging residents to rally behind kingdom programs.
Unifying factor
Rwomiire noted that the inter-clan tournament will serve as a unifying platform, bringing together people from different clans and fostering social cohesion. He further encouraged subjects of the kingdom to actively participate in development initiatives such as Baragirakiiki and other economic empowerment programs.
The Kingdom’s Sports Minister, Eng. Kateba, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that the tournament is designed to strengthen unity among the people while also encouraging participation in government programs.
During the same function, the kingdom, through the Prime Minister, officially handed over the land title for the site where the mega stadium is expected to be constructed.
Government backs the move
Chairperson of the National Council of Sports, Ambrose Tashobya, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling the presidential pledge of establishing a modern stadium in Tooro Kingdom.
State Minister for Local Government, Victoria Businge Rusoke, commended the partnership between the kingdom and government, urging other districts across Uganda to emulate Tooro by availing land for key development projects.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, noted that the final capacity of the stadium will depend on the size of the land provided. He also praised Tooro for its rich contribution to Uganda’s sports talent and revealed that the project aligns with national sports infrastructure plans, including preparations for upcoming AFCON tournaments.
Tooro Kingdom’s Deputy Sports Minister, Wandela Michael, applauded both the King and the government for pushing forward what he described as a transformative project set to boost sports and development in the region.