By Lule Eriah and Jimmy Siyasa
While Covid-19 has severed sports in Uganda, including at Uganda Christian University (UCU), it’s important to recognize the role athletics play in shaping a well-rounded individual and, for some, propelling a career. The sports at UCU include football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, netball, handball, wood ball, and tennis. This pictorial depicts some successes of UCU sports alum.
A four-time winner of the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) netball player of the year award, Peace Proscovia was the first Ugandan to play professional netball in the United Kingdom. The captain of the Uganda national netball team is a multi-talented player of basketball, handball, volleyball, but more known for her exploits in netball. With her academic and netball roots in UCU, from where she pursued both a bachelor’s (2013) and Masters of Business Administration (2016), Proscovia is now a world class netball player. An April 2020 Sky Sports story describes her as “one of the best shooters in world of netball.”
A third-year student of UCU’s Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Hasifah Nassuna is a forward for both the Uganda national women’s football team, the Crested Cranes and the university team, the UCU Lady Cardinals. in the country’s women super league. At 22, Nassuna is a household name in Ugandan women football. Her agility and dribbling skills endear her to lovers of the game. Nassuna’s football prowess has seen her scoop several awards, including the Female Player of the Year award in the 2016 Uganda football association annual awards. At 86 goals, Nassuna is the country’s all-time top scorer.
Having graduated in July 2019 with a UCU Diploma in Business Administration, Ruth Aturo notes that her parents have expressed their displeasure with her involvement in women’s football. They feel she will be more successful in another career. Despite the resistance, Aturo has soldiered on, with the captain of the national team, the Crested Cranes, being named the best goalkeeper of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) in South Africa. In 2018, she was Uganda football association’s female footballer of the year.
A student pursuing a UCU Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Fayed Baale takes no prisoners while on the basketball court. No wonder his impeccable performance and shocking spring power have seen him take flights to represent UCU in competitions overseas. At the time of writing this story, Baale was in Tunisia, with his club, the Silver Backs, for the Afro Basketball Championship, a continental tournament.
David Dkong has represented the university as part of the Silver Backs basketball club. “I used to play basketball for fun. It was when I started playing in the national league, while on scholarship from UCU, that I started playing competitive basketball,” Dkong said. “All I can say is UCU just showed me the worth of my talent.”
Paul Mucureezi is a player with Vipers Sports Club in Uganda’s premier soccer league. “I don’t regret studying at UCU because the university polished my talent, positioned me strategically and, now, I’m shinning at my club, as well as earning a living,” Mucureezi said in a phone interview. “I just didn’t know what the future held for me, until UCU threw the light to the direction that I needed. I’m grateful and humbled and if there is any need, I will not hesitate to show my appreciation to my alma mater.”
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For more of these stories and experiences by and about Uganda Christian University (UCU) staff, students and graduates, visit https://www.ugandapartners.org. If you would like to support UCU, including the School of Dentistry, contact Mark Bartels, Executive Director, UCU Partners, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org or go to https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/
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